Import Trade Values by Commodity 2022 Overview
Analytical Summary
The January–December 2022 data show an import structure dominated by mechanical and electrical products, high-technology components, energy commodities, and essential agricultural inputs. General trade remained the principal channel for goods serving domestic consumption, while processing trade and bonded logistics were particularly important for electronics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and other manufacturing inputs.
Mechanical and electrical products were the largest reported commodity group, with combined imports of approximately USD 1.05 trillion across all trade modes. General trade accounted for about 43.2%, processing trade for 31.6%, and bonded logistics for 24.0%. Despite its scale, the category contracted across every trade mode: values declined 8.5% under general trade, 9.1% under processing trade, 4.2% through bonded logistics, and 36.1% under other trade. This indicates broad weakness in technology and manufacturing-related import demand during 2022.
High-tech product imports totaled approximately USD 763.5 billion. Processing trade was the largest channel at roughly 35.0%, followed by general trade at 34.5% and bonded logistics at 29.3%. Values declined across all channels, including 12.4% under processing trade and 6.5% under general trade. Because high-tech products overlap substantially with mechanical and electrical products, the two category totals should not be added together.
Integrated circuits were the largest individual imported commodity, reaching approximately USD 415.6 billion. Processing trade accounted for 43.7% of the total, bonded logistics for 29.1%, and general trade for 27.1%. Import quantities declined sharply across the three principal channels, while values fell more moderately. This divergence suggests that average semiconductor unit values remained comparatively high despite weaker physical demand. Other-trade integrated-circuit imports increased from a small base, with value rising 61.0%.
Integrated circuits were the largest individual imported commodity, reaching approximately USD 415.6 billion. Processing trade accounted for 43.7% of the total, bonded logistics for 29.1%, and general trade for 27.1%. Import quantities declined sharply across the three principal channels, while values fell more moderately. This divergence suggests that average semiconductor unit values remained comparatively high despite weaker physical demand. Other-trade integrated-circuit imports increased from a small base, with value rising 61.0%.
Automatic data-processing equipment and parts generated approximately USD 57.2 billion in imports. Bonded logistics represented 45.7% of the total, confirming the importance of bonded zones for technology inventory, component consolidation, and regional distribution. Nevertheless, import values declined under general trade, processing trade, and bonded logistics by 17.0%, 22.6%, and 9.7%, respectively.
Agricultural-product imports totaled approximately USD 236.1 billion, of which general trade represented 88.6%. General-trade agricultural imports increased 9.4%, while processing-trade and bonded-logistics values declined. Grain was the largest listed agricultural commodity at approximately USD 82.6 billion, followed by soybeans at USD 61.2 billion and meat at USD 31.7 billion.
Agricultural import values often increased despite lower physical volumes. General-trade grain quantity declined 8.2%, but value rose 13.6%. Soybean quantity fell 3.6%, while value increased 17.2%. Meat volume decreased 18.7%, but value increased 1.8%. These patterns indicate substantial price inflation and higher average import costs during 2022.
Edible vegetable oil showed broad volume weakness. General-trade quantity declined 39.7% and value fell 20.9%. Bonded-logistics value nevertheless rose 19.7%, while other-trade imports increased exceptionally rapidly from a very small base. Fertilizer imports displayed an even stronger price effect: general-trade quantity rose only 1.7%, but value increased 84.7%, while bonded-logistics value grew 122.1%.
Energy commodities were major contributors to import value growth. Crude-oil imports reached approximately USD 365.5 billion, making crude oil the second-largest listed individual commodity after integrated circuits. Import quantities were broadly stable or slightly lower, but values increased by 42.2% under general trade, 41.9% under processing trade, and 37.5% through bonded logistics. The result primarily reflects substantially higher average crude-oil prices rather than greater physical demand.
Natural-gas imports totaled approximately USD 70.0 billion and were overwhelmingly concentrated in general trade. General-trade quantity declined 10.5%, while value increased 23.9%, again indicating a strong price effect. Bonded-logistics natural-gas value rose 143.2% from a smaller base.
Coal imports followed a similar pattern. General-trade quantity declined 13.1%, but value increased 11.1%. Bonded-logistics coal value expanded 532.3%, while other-trade value rose 127.4%. Although these channels remained much smaller than general trade, their growth suggests increased use of alternative customs arrangements and inventory channels during a period of energy-market volatility.
Iron-ore imports totaled approximately USD 128.1 billion. General-trade quantity increased marginally by 0.5%, but value fell 28.6%, indicating a substantial decline in average prices. Bonded-logistics iron-ore imports also decreased sharply in both quantity and value. This contrasts directly with energy imports, where prices raised import values despite flat or declining volumes.
Copper ores and concentrates reached approximately USD 56.3 billion. General-trade quantity rose 6.7%, while value declined 1.6%; processing-trade quantity increased 17.5% and value rose 7.1%. The slower growth in value than quantity suggests lower average import prices. Unwrought copper and copper-product imports totaled approximately USD 54.3 billion, with notable growth through bonded logistics despite declines under general trade.
Traditional industrial materials generally weakened. Imports of plastics in primary forms declined across most trade modes, with total value of approximately USD 56.2 billion. Steel-product import quantities fell sharply under general and processing trade, while textile import values declined across all channels. Logs and sawn timber also contracted significantly, consistent with softer construction, property-related, and conventional manufacturing activity.
Wood pulp was an exception within traditional industrial materials. General-trade value increased 10.3% despite a 2.5% decline in quantity, while processing-trade value rose 47.0%. This indicates higher average pulp prices and continued demand from paper, packaging, and consumer-goods industries.
Medicinal materials and medicines totaled approximately USD 42.7 billion. Bonded logistics accounted for 65.3% of the total and increased 8.9%, while general- and processing-trade values declined. The heavy bonded-logistics concentration is consistent with regulated warehousing, specialized distribution, and centralized pharmaceutical supply chains.
Consumer-related imports were subdued. Beauty, cosmetics, and personal-care products totaled approximately USD 22.4 billion, but values declined under general trade, bonded logistics, and other trade. Motor-vehicle imports reached approximately USD 53.2 billion. General-trade vehicle value fell 12.2%, although bonded-logistics value more than doubled, indicating a shift in inventory location or customs treatment rather than uniform growth in final domestic demand. Auto-parts imports declined across all trade modes.
Key Metrics (Number + Title)
- USD 1.05 trillion — Mechanical & Electrical Products Import Value (largest reported commodity group)
- USD 763.5 billion — High-Tech Products Import Value (approximately 35.0% conducted through processing trade)
- USD 415.6 billion — Integrated Circuits Import Value (largest individual imported commodity)
- USD 365.5 billion — Crude Oil Import Value (values increased by more than 37% across the main trade modes)
- USD 236.1 billion — Agricultural Products Import Value (approximately 88.6% conducted through general trade)
- USD 128.1 billion — Iron Ore Import Value (general-trade value declined 28.6% despite stable volume)
- USD 82.6 billion — Grain Import Value (value increased despite lower import quantities)
- USD 70.0 billion — Natural Gas Import Value (general-trade value rose 23.9% while volume fell 10.5%)
- 43.7% — Processing-Trade Share of Integrated Circuit Imports (the dominant channel for semiconductor imports)
- 42.2% — Growth in General-Trade Crude Oil Import Value (primarily reflecting higher global energy prices)
Major Import Commodities by Trade Mode
| Product | Unit | General Trade | Processing Trade | Bonded Logistics | Other Trade | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Value (USD ’000) | Quantity | Value (USD ’000) | Quantity | Value (USD ’000) | Quantity | Value (USD ’000) | ||
| Agricultural products* | — | — | 209,091,934.430000007 | — | 6,841,950.876 | — | 18,923,503.884 | — | 1,200,040.86 |
| YoY change | — | 9.4% | — | -6.1% | — | -7.4% | — | 15.9% | |
| Meat (including offal) | 10,000 tons | 706.4415466 | 30,345,105.454 | 11.4639394 | 277,054.243 | 22.2938743 | 1,111,464.771 | 0.1913231 | 3,478.347 |
| YoY change | -18.7% | 1.8% | -11.9% | -7.5% | -60.1% | -45.6% | -56.6% | -60.8% | |
| Fresh & dried fruits/melons and nuts | 10,000 tons | 705.7442461 | 14,111,956.407 | 5.4207724 | 362,345.233 | 19.0455479 | 887,857.919 | 23.1080336 | 285,688.317 |
| YoY change | -6.7% | 5.6% | -63.4% | -60.2% | 15.0% | 16.4% | -10.3% | 33.5% | |
| Grain | 10,000 tons | 13,620.8878481 | 77,503,971.979000002 | 329.4696424 | 1,514,744.445 | 666.7006788 | 3,328,387.143 | 70.1065331 | 298,844.748 |
| YoY change | -8.2% | 13.6% | -31.6% | -23.3% | -38.1% | -25.3% | 30.4% | 71.3% | |
| Soybeans | 10,000 tons | 8,665.0789767 | 58,327,332.259000003 | 121.549733 | 825,225.612 | 278.5804398 | 1,877,975.952 | 42.9335421 | 205,454.038 |
| YoY change | -3.6% | 17.2% | -39.0% | -28.8% | -35.4% | -24.0% | 32.4% | 79.4% | |
| Edible vegetable oil | 10,000 tons | 578.2623609 | 8,011,619.712 | 3.1211498 | 51,240.045 | 63.2181942 | 863,181.246 | 3.5472653 | 49,452.713 |
| YoY change | -39.7% | -20.9% | -29.9% | -11.2% | -14.1% | 19.7% | 671.2% | 759.6% | |
| Iron ores and concentrates | 10,000 tons | 100,822.2276238 | 116,404,767.787 | 85.1717741 | 132,096.259 | 9,283.7655944 | 11,163,313.175000001 | 495.2610446 | 396,453.239 |
| YoY change | 0.5% | -28.6% | 61.7% | 27.2% | -16.7% | -38.8% | -41.8% | -54.1% | |
| Copper ores and concentrates | 10,000 tons | 1,516.1245271 | 33,117,932.565000001 | 631.0094837 | 14,872,747.409 | 379.3304332 | 8,330,248.838 | 0.5958647 | 7,537.936 |
| YoY change | 6.7% | -1.6% | 17.5% | 7.1% | -0.7% | -11.9% | 302.3% | 116.8% | |
| Coal and lignite | 10,000 tons | 27,014.6547859 | 38,522,116.577 | 41.6117 | 63,956.561 | 434.4501651 | 1,172,818.261 | 1,829.7263374 | 2,856,584.834 |
| YoY change | -13.1% | 11.1% | -5.7% | 34.1% | 445.2% | 532.3% | 66.3% | 127.4% | |
| Crude oil | 10,000 tons | 39,458.3092256 | 285,341,913.555000007 | 2,396.6634643 | 17,856,707.009 | 8,972.6318931 | 62,313,396.993000001 | 0.000024 | 1.994 |
| YoY change | -0.4% | 42.2% | -5.6% | 41.9% | -1.6% | 37.5% | — | — | |
| Refined oil products | 10,000 tons | 1,520.3021407 | 12,305,156.959000001 | 8.6710107 | 127,651.609 | 1,115.9785883 | 7,170,467.825 | 0.0415943 | 1,312.217 |
| YoY change | 6.5% | 26.2% | -25.6% | -1.9% | -12.2% | 5.0% | -92.2% | -77.5% | |
| Natural gas | 10,000 tons | 10,717.9558819 | 67,965,461.758000001 | — | — | 202.4259414 | 2,039,818.673 | 4.3878906 | 13,528.673 |
| YoY change | -10.5% | 23.9% | — | — | 48.8% | 143.2% | -61.3% | -25.4% | |
| Rare earths | tons | 96,250.304 | 896,044.254 | 756.8 | 93,810.257 | 4,318.663 | 144,963.764 | 20,161.301 | 493,978.071 |
| YoY change | 9.1% | 22.4% | 39.4% | 76.6% | -59.8% | 26.2% | -9.2% | -1.4% | |
| Medicinal materials and medicines | tons | 205,393.669 | 12,801,963.676000001 | 10,083.491 | 1,373,635.99 | 70,140.973 | 27,873,794.017000001 | 5,478.848 | 691,604.94 |
| YoY change | 43.9% | -23.6% | -0.3% | -21.8% | 2.8% | 8.9% | 14.7% | 20.1% | |
| Fertilizers | 10,000 tons | 672.3412826 | 3,668,318.889 | 0.000016 | 1.13 | 102.8470802 | 585,210.182 | 118.4968615 | 660,347.613 |
| YoY change | 1.7% | 84.7% | -100.0% | -99.8% | 21.7% | 122.1% | -27.4% | 36.4% | |
| Beauty, cosmetics, and personal care products | tons | 252,087.123 | 10,804,508.945 | 6,639.448 | 168,092.077 | 155,077.959 | 9,465,139.461999999 | 4,180.485 | 1,930,485.752 |
| YoY change | -14.3% | -14.4% | -17.4% | 19.6% | -5.7% | -3.1% | -42.1% | -18.2% | |
| Plastics in primary forms | 10,000 tons | 2,350.4809338 | 41,723,917.653999999 | 458.040772 | 9,241,893.384 | 248.3366238 | 5,150,776.642 | 0.9532452 | 37,601.836 |
| YoY change | -8.2% | -5.0% | -22.2% | -22.9% | 1.4% | -0.4% | -37.3% | -30.1% | |
| Natural and synthetic rubber (including latex) | 10,000 tons | 429.0103472 | 7,465,762.35 | 124.4531845 | 2,259,075.431 | 179.6765325 | 3,194,922.393 | 2.8401554 | 34,972.098 |
| YoY change | 4.8% | 3.2% | -15.3% | -18.1% | 54.0% | 54.0% | -28.8% | -40.7% | |
| Logs and sawn timber | 10,000 m³ | 6,385.7312 | 14,828,117.181 | 58.0206 | 196,040.108 | 100.1382 | 238,418.414 | 473.1172 | 799,207.71 |
| YoY change | -20.6% | -15.1% | -3.3% | 1.8% | -36.9% | -30.6% | -49.9% | -45.0% | |
| Wood pulp | 10,000 tons | 2,262.2063671 | 17,486,867.881999999 | 362.9187981 | 2,529,226.173 | 289.5642476 | 2,320,686.263 | 1.6543244 | 12,636.925 |
| YoY change | -2.5% | 10.3% | 28.8% | 47.0% | -20.1% | -5.3% | -58.5% | -55.4% | |
| Textile yarns, fabrics and articles | — | — | 7,179,931.008 | — | 3,681,195.412 | — | 973,642.818 | — | 54,037.836 |
| YoY change | — | -27.8% | — | -20.6% | — | -10.2% | — | -2.8% | |
| Steel products | 10,000 tons | 794.7600646 | 12,408,636.545 | 231.9874454 | 3,754,244.302 | 29.0140768 | 884,981.389 | 0.8839847 | 40,478.765 |
| YoY change | -27.6% | -7.9% | -22.7% | -13.0% | 3.1% | -1.4% | 28.7% | 13.4% | |
| Unwrought copper and copper products | tons | 3,776,089.347 | 33,950,067.348999999 | 727,971.794 | 7,443,615.941 | 1,343,902.209 | 12,698,743.737 | 22,916.27 | 214,163.798 |
| YoY change | -4.4% | -7.0% | 1.2% | -1.1% | 57.9% | 51.9% | 165.2% | 179.8% | |
| Mechanical & electrical products* | — | — | 451,655,340.660000026 | — | 330,851,004.388999999 | — | 250,834,915.458999991 | — | 12,510,995.444 |
| YoY change | — | -8.5% | — | -9.1% | — | -4.2% | — | -36.1% | |
| Machine tools | units | 71,452 | 6,429,033.264 | 6,899 | 12,052.18 | 10,589 | 504,434.096 | 2,845 | 213,643.098 |
| YoY change | -19.8% | -13.6% | 79.2% | 82.7% | -0.8% | -2.4% | -23.3% | -20.5% | |
| Automatic data processing equipment and parts | — | — | 17,284,654.046 | — | 13,522,141.652000001 | — | 26,153,962.179000001 | — | 215,383.536 |
| YoY change | — | -17.0% | — | -22.6% | — | -9.7% | — | 16.8% | |
| Diodes and similar semiconductor devices | 100 million units | 1,790.39481018 | 12,757,973.130000001 | 2,925.49898876 | 8,390,222.231000001 | 1,265.89098823 | 8,046,059.512 | 3.86158287 | 56,436.646 |
| YoY change | -24.8% | -0.6% | -14.3% | -5.4% | -25.3% | 1.8% | -35.7% | -31.9% | |
| Integrated circuits | 100 million units | 2,246.02450782 | 112,476,915.270999998 | 2,311.93114719 | 181,733,201.407000005 | 818.80602475 | 120,762,714.186000004 | 7.19039174 | 606,156.993 |
| YoY change | -18.9% | -3.6% | -11.5% | -4.6% | -15.6% | -3.2% | 40.1% | 61.0% | |
| Motor vehicles (including chassis) | 10,000 vehicles | 74.6683 | 42,914,934.515000001 | 0.0973 | 67,405.193 | 12.8984 | 10,214,823.675000001 | 0.1175 | 41,459.243 |
| YoY change | -14.5% | -12.2% | 71.9% | 52.4% | 101.2% | 105.8% | -0.7% | -6.8% | |
| Auto parts | — | — | 27,448,041.162999999 | — | 2,572,568.833 | — | 1,237,996.392 | — | 38,027.89 |
| YoY change | — | -16.8% | — | -22.2% | — | -3.8% | — | -33.8% | |
| Aircraft with empty weight > 2 tons | aircraft | 20 | 628,447.568 | 10 | 1,137,194.88 | 104 | 6,326,251.574 | 10 | 312,075.362 |
| YoY change | -35.5% | 22.9% | -63.0% | -49.4% | -14.8% | -5.3% | -44.4% | -58.5% | |
| LCD flat panel display modules | 10,000 units | 59,074.2159 | 2,102,554.886 | 80,334.118 | 10,355,679.272 | 12,158.8378 | 2,666,967.211 | 103.9011 | 11,947.644 |
| YoY change | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Medical instruments and apparatus | — | — | 6,819,556.251 | — | 278,939.396 | — | 7,234,987.677 | — | 39,030.775 |
| YoY change | — | -15.2% | — | -16.7% | — | 1.2% | — | -3.8% | |
| High-tech products* | — | — | 263,296,540.453000009 | — | 266,870,900.006000012 | — | 223,697,012.729000002 | — | 9,600,594.069 |
| YoY change | — | -6.5% | — | -12.4% | — | -5.0% | — | -38.2% | |
Notes:
1) Shaded entries indicate the cumulative year-on-year comparison vs the same period last year.
2) “Processing Trade” refers to the sum of “Processing with supplied materials” and “Processing with imported materials” (Table 5; same below). “Bonded Logistics” includes “Goods entering/leaving bonded customs supervision sites” and “Logistics goods in special customs supervision areas.” “Other Trade” is the total of all trade modes not listed above.
3) Product items are consistent with the key imported commodities table in the Customs Statistics Bulletin. For HS code coverage, see the “Statistics” section of China Customs (www.customs.gov.cn).
