China export growth hit 25% in August, boosting trade surplus to $119.1 billion

China's customs agency reported that exports accelerated sharply in August, rising 25% compared to the same period last year. Imports climbed 28.2% year-on-year, generating a trade surplus of $119.1 billion, an increase from $112.5 billion in July. Electric vehicles and high-tech industrial machinery were primary drivers of this performance. Chi Lo, a senior market strategist at BNP Paribas Asset Management, noted that China remains highly competitive in tech goods exports and has moved aggressively up the value chain in AI infrastructure. The trade data arrived before a scheduled meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in late September, though Beijing has not confirmed the exact date. China is also expanding trade with Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa while navigating elevated US tariffs and regional disruptions.