China’s exports surged by more than 20 percent in the first two months of 2026, far exceeding economist expectations, despite ongoing trade tensions and tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Official figures released this week show that shipments abroad grew at nearly three times the forecasted rate, bolstering China’s trade outlook for the year.

The announcement comes ahead of US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China in early April, where he is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping. Analysts view the strong export performance as a lifeline for the world’s second-largest economy, which continues to face internal challenges such as sluggish domestic consumption, a declining population, and asset market pressures.

Beijing typically publishes January–February trade figures together to adjust for seasonal distortions caused by the Lunar New Year holiday. The latest data highlights rising demand for electronics, along with increased shipments of agricultural and manufactured goods.

Exports to Europe jumped 27.8 percent, while shipments to Southeast Asian nations—including Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines—rose nearly 30 percent. In contrast, exports to the United States fell more than 10 percent, reflecting the impact of tariffs and other measures aimed at addressing the trade imbalance between the two countries.

Last week, China set its annual economic growth target at 4.5–5 percent, slightly lower than the 5 percent growth achieved in 2025, which was largely supported by export performance. The figures underscore that, despite weak domestic spending and a slowing property market, exports remain a key driver of China’s economic stability.

The upcoming Trump-Xi meeting takes place amid broader regional economic uncertainties, as many Asian countries—including China—grapple with the economic fallout from the US-Israel conflict in Iran, which has disrupted global energy markets.