Export Trade Values by Commodity 2022 Overview
Analytical Summary
China’s 2022 export structure remained heavily concentrated in manufactured goods, particularly mechanical and electrical products, high-tech products, textiles, apparel, consumer goods, and transport equipment. General trade was the dominant channel for most traditional and domestically sourced exports, while processing trade retained a central role in electronics, mobile phones, integrated circuits, computers, and shipbuilding.
Mechanical and electrical products were the largest export category, with combined exports of approximately USD 2.05 trillion. General trade accounted for about 52.4%, processing trade for 33.2%, bonded logistics for 11.0%, and other trade for the remainder. General-trade exports increased 9.3%, but processing-trade exports declined 3.3%, indicating that export growth was increasingly supported by domestically organized supply chains rather than traditional processing arrangements.
High-tech product exports totaled approximately USD 951.3 billion. Processing trade remained the largest channel, representing about 47.3%, followed by general trade at 35.0% and bonded logistics at 17.0%. However, the category showed limited momentum: general-trade exports rose only 1.0%, while processing trade declined 5.7% and bonded logistics fell 2.1%. This points to weaker global demand for electronics and advanced technology products during 2022.
Automatic data-processing equipment and parts were the largest listed technology export, with a combined value of approximately USD 236.0 billion. Processing trade represented more than two-thirds of the total. Export values declined across every major trade mode, including a 6.6% contraction under processing trade and an 11.8% decline through bonded logistics. This suggests broad weakness in global computer and hardware demand.
Mobile-phone exports reached approximately USD 142.7 billion. Processing trade accounted for roughly 71.1% of the total. General-trade mobile-phone exports fell 19.9%, while processing-trade value increased 5.3%. Bonded-logistics exports also rose strongly, although from a smaller base. The pattern indicates that mobile-phone exports remained highly dependent on assembly-oriented supply chains, even as direct general-trade shipments weakened.
Integrated-circuit exports totaled approximately USD 153.9 billion. Processing trade and bonded logistics were the two largest channels, together accounting for more than 82% of exports. General-trade value increased 16.1%, despite a 10.3% decline in quantity, indicating a sharp rise in average unit value. Bonded-logistics value was essentially flat, while processing-trade value declined 5.1%.
Traditional consumer and light-manufacturing exports remained important. Garments and clothing accessories generated approximately USD 175.4 billion, textile yarns, fabrics, and related articles reached about USD 147.9 billion, and footwear exports totaled approximately USD 57.6 billion. These categories were heavily concentrated in general trade. Apparel exports grew modestly, while footwear performed more strongly, with general-trade value increasing 19.1%.
Plastic products were another major export category, totaling approximately USD 107.8 billion. General trade accounted for nearly three-quarters of the total and increased 14.5%. Cases, bags, and similar containers also recorded strong growth, with general-trade value rising 31.9%. These results show continued resilience in selected consumer-goods and packaging-related exports.
Agricultural-product exports totaled approximately USD 98.3 billion, of which general trade represented about 85.5%. Export values increased across all trade modes, including growth of 16.8% under general trade and 22.7% through bonded logistics. Aquatic products were the largest listed agricultural export at approximately USD 22.6 billion, while grain exports remained relatively small.
Refined petroleum products generated approximately USD 48.3 billion in export value. Despite lower export volumes, values increased sharply across all major trade modes, including 47.0% under general trade and 51.5% through bonded logistics. This divergence indicates that higher petroleum prices, rather than larger physical shipments, were the principal driver of export growth.
Industrial materials also performed strongly. Steel-product exports totaled approximately USD 96.5 billion, with general-trade value increasing 29.5%. Unwrought aluminum and aluminum-product exports reached approximately USD 26.0 billion, supported by a 33.1% increase under general trade. These gains reflect a combination of stronger prices and increased export volumes.
Motor vehicles were among the strongest-performing manufactured exports. Total vehicle exports reached approximately USD 60.2 billion. General-trade quantity increased 55.7%, while value rose 81.0%. Bonded-logistics vehicle exports expanded exceptionally rapidly from a low base, with value increasing 1,778.6%. These figures indicate a major acceleration in China’s emergence as a global automotive exporter.
Auto-parts exports totaled approximately USD 81.1 billion. General-trade value increased 14.3%, while processing-trade exports declined 7.7%. The shift toward general trade suggests growing domestic value creation and a declining reliance on imported components for re-export assembly.
Ship exports totaled approximately USD 21.6 billion and remained concentrated in processing trade. General-trade ship exports increased, while processing-trade value declined 6.3%. Bonded-logistics exports rose sharply from a small base, reflecting the irregular timing and high unit value of large vessel deliveries.
Several consumer-oriented sectors showed weaker results. Furniture exports declined under general trade, processing trade, and other trade, while toys recorded mixed performance: general-trade exports rose 12.0%, but processing and other-trade values declined. Household-appliance exports also contracted across the two largest trade modes, reflecting weaker international demand for durable consumer goods.
Key Metrics (Number + Title)
- USD 2.05 trillion — Mechanical & Electrical Products Export Value (largest reported commodity group; 52.4% exported through general trade)
- USD 951.3 billion — High-Tech Products Export Value (processing trade accounted for approximately 47.3%)
- USD 236.0 billion — Automatic Data Processing Equipment & Parts Export Value (largest listed technology product)
- USD 175.4 billion — Garments & Clothing Accessories Export Value (general trade represented approximately 77.1%)
- USD 153.9 billion — Integrated Circuits Export Value (processing trade and bonded logistics were the principal channels)
- USD 147.9 billion — Textile Yarns, Fabrics & Articles Export Value (approximately 87.5% conducted through general trade)
- USD 142.7 billion — Mobile Phone Export Value (processing trade accounted for approximately 71.1%)
- USD 107.8 billion — Plastic Products Export Value (general trade represented approximately 74.8%)
- USD 98.3 billion — Agricultural Products Export Value (general trade accounted for approximately 85.5%)
- 81.0% — Growth in General-Trade Motor Vehicle Export Value (one of the strongest increases among major manufactured exports)
Major Export 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* | — | — | 84,010,564.748999998 | — | 9,555,979.836999999 | — | 2,580,038.656 | — | 2,115,625.524 |
| YoY change | — | 16.8% | — | 12.5% | — | 22.7% | — | 17.3% | |
| Aquatic products | 10,000 tons | 285.6455747 | 17,473,260.699000001 | 81.5970681 | 4,874,853.356 | 1.9933426 | 197,633.29 | 0.5927618 | 41,161.303 |
| YoY change | -2.9% | 1.0% | 7.2% | 21.4% | -51.5% | -23.6% | 87.8% | 150.9% | |
| Grain | 10,000 tons | 282.3866822 | 1,604,039.264 | 5.7395314 | 32,161.253 | 13.5501286 | 60,664.588 | 20.0717336 | 169,093.746 |
| YoY change | -7.2% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 12.9% | 198.9% | 104.8% | 22.2% | 6.3% | |
| Refined oil products | 10,000 tons | 2,946.8004391 | 28,188,366.997000001 | 35.8897024 | 476,620.118 | 2,379.6929869 | 19,565,862.274999999 | 6.5255333 | 70,301.121 |
| YoY change | -15.3% | 47.0% | -25.8% | 32.6% | -4.7% | 51.5% | 51.9% | 131.3% | |
| Rare earths | tons | 47,562.032 | 921,342.257 | — | — | 1,165.767 | 142,415.411 | 0.02 | 8.065 |
| YoY change | -0.3% | 67.5% | — | — | -3.4% | 38.0% | 66.7% | 32160.0% | |
| Traditional Chinese medicinal materials and patent medicines | tons | 140,367.978 | 1,235,639.207 | 1,063.213 | 33,307.285 | 2,530.471 | 69,324.393 | 3,695.006 | 28,365.972 |
| YoY change | 5.4% | 4.7% | 30.4% | -6.3% | 127.6% | 132.0% | 68.0% | 32.8% | |
| Fertilizers | 10,000 tons | 2,402.1244568 | 11,151,024.801000001 | — | — | 49.45362 | 223,191.097 | 34.2765894 | 95,904.768 |
| YoY change | -22.9% | 1.4% | — | — | -35.4% | -19.4% | -60.2% | -70.9% | |
| Plastic products | — | — | 80,639,064.922999993 | — | 9,153,411.123 | — | 3,617,501.966 | — | 14,400,088.396 |
| YoY change | — | 14.5% | — | -8.1% | — | 10.6% | — | -3.8% | |
| Cases, bags and similar containers | 10,000 tons | 228.0111779 | 27,244,158.609000001 | 4.3951888 | 1,005,375.409 | 10.2376775 | 1,578,122.667 | 54.4867697 | 5,742,916.638 |
| YoY change | 26.7% | 31.9% | -6.6% | -5.0% | 6.7% | 17.1% | 11.7% | 22.4% | |
| Textile yarns, fabrics and articles | — | — | 129,443,392.618000001 | — | 6,484,797.953 | — | 3,364,461.256 | — | 8,655,472.105 |
| YoY change | — | 2.9% | — | -14.5% | — | 24.0% | — | -3.2% | |
| Garments and clothing accessories | — | — | 135,203,262.400000006 | — | 9,919,595.283 | — | 7,514,530.291 | — | 22,759,444.761 |
| YoY change | — | 1.8% | — | -10.3% | — | 6.8% | — | 19.9% | |
| Footwear | 10,000 pairs | 685,489.8015 | 38,867,345.847999997 | 28,147.5964 | 5,275,061.996 | 29,200.2613 | 3,093,603.027 | 186,480.0385 | 10,341,093.699999999 |
| YoY change | 8.8% | 19.1% | 10.1% | 19.1% | -28.9% | 5.7% | 6.6% | 32.2% | |
| Ceramic products | 10,000 tons | 1,676.6242702 | 24,297,916.449999999 | 3.1967228 | 182,397.65 | 15.225749 | 648,339.799 | 138.4151103 | 7,346,795.189 |
| YoY change | 0.4% | 15.2% | 13.8% | -9.0% | 1.2% | -19.3% | -19.6% | -12.7% | |
| Steel products | 10,000 tons | 6,344.254271 | 89,955,592.202999994 | 137.6078492 | 2,567,796.926 | 116.6893686 | 1,873,633.016 | 133.7002777 | 2,151,804.472 |
| YoY change | 9.2% | 29.5% | 67.9% | 51.9% | -80.4% | -69.3% | -28.0% | -47.3% | |
| Unwrought aluminum and aluminum products | tons | 6,041,463.366 | 23,725,932.642000001 | 289,937.154 | 1,183,582.292 | 233,190.608 | 911,761.48 | 39,033.505 | 183,278.871 |
| YoY change | 15.5% | 33.1% | 12.4% | 19.4% | 506.2% | 235.0% | -57.5% | -49.0% | |
| Furniture and parts | — | — | 59,578,476.072999999 | — | 4,209,695.051 | — | 1,093,409.449 | — | 4,798,535.35 |
| YoY change | — | -3.4% | — | -1.4% | — | 3.2% | — | -27.4% | |
| Toys | — | — | 30,752,311.754999999 | — | 4,672,942.14 | — | 2,910,617.338 | — | 10,020,320.082 |
| YoY change | — | 12.0% | — | -10.7% | — | 6.0% | — | -3.4% | |
| Mechanical and electrical products* | — | — | 1,075,360,304.785000086 | — | 681,743,002.182999969 | — | 226,272,150.277999997 | — | 69,390,496.709999993 |
| YoY change | — | 9.3% | — | -3.3% | — | 4.7% | — | -10.8% | |
| General-purpose machinery | — | — | 43,087,676.123000003 | — | 8,072,456.571 | — | 2,022,710.516 | — | 2,493,832.92 |
| YoY change | — | 9.3% | — | -4.0% | — | 3.9% | — | -7.3% | |
| Automatic data processing equipment and parts | — | — | 24,864,467.592 | — | 158,424,097.296000004 | — | 52,187,128.603 | — | 486,789.431 |
| YoY change | — | -3.3% | — | -6.6% | — | -11.8% | — | -27.7% | |
| Mobile phones | 10,000 units | 54,778.0891 | 38,424,013.037 | 23,619.1836 | 101,483,180.104000002 | 3,640.8245 | 2,747,758.932 | 186.1039 | 15,534.032 |
| YoY change | -19.9% | -19.9% | -6.1% | 5.3% | 119.3% | 44.6% | -20.6% | -78.6% | |
| Household appliances | 10,000 units | 200,472.0948 | 49,102,865.870999999 | 82,269.0742 | 30,877,331.210000001 | 10,951.9392 | 2,201,187.174 | 42,952.2934 | 3,318,546.566 |
| YoY change | -12.8% | -9.0% | -21.2% | -21.1% | -8.9% | 3.3% | 5.3% | -1.5% | |
| Audio-visual equipment and parts | — | — | 21,423,475.471000001 | — | 11,862,069.839 | — | 3,984,066.028 | — | 738,210.784 |
| YoY change | — | -3.0% | — | -5.4% | — | -26.2% | — | -13.9% | |
| Integrated circuits | 100 million units | 1,037.18794093 | 27,026,067.903000001 | 1,047.61634979 | 65,736,987.001000002 | 633.93349355 | 61,031,630.353 | 14.82516064 | 123,455.08 |
| YoY change | -10.3% | 16.1% | -10.5% | -5.1% | -18.5% | 0.1% | 1088.1% | 386.3% | |
| Motor vehicles (including chassis) | 10,000 vehicles | 277.4447 | 42,445,832.468000002 | 36.9449 | 10,821,858.867000001 | 16.7504 | 6,456,563.909 | 0.9756 | 431,492.996 |
| YoY change | 55.7% | 81.0% | 15.8% | 4.9% | 1393.4% | 1778.6% | 72.6% | 33.5% | |
| Auto parts | — | — | 56,072,853.961000003 | — | 18,645,674.644000001 | — | 3,492,254.634 | — | 2,878,583.169 |
| YoY change | — | 14.3% | — | -7.7% | — | 8.3% | — | -4.3% | |
| Ships | ships | 3,839 | 811,840.325 | 1,138 | 18,140,850.019000001 | 46 | 984,731.374 | 669 | 1,688,722.079 |
| YoY change | 31.9% | 23.8% | -21.1% | -6.3% | 0.0% | 898.2% | 108.4% | 5.4% | |
| LCD flat panel display modules | 10,000 units | 73,105.4999 | 7,922,437.82 | 73,204.117 | 14,773,594.616 | 18,055.1077 | 4,494,636.844 | 195.4867 | 21,359.308 |
| YoY change | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Medical instruments and apparatus | — | — | 13,387,528.056 | — | 4,118,505.109 | — | 1,086,818.579 | — | 499,992.814 |
| YoY change | — | -5.7% | — | -9.0% | — | 20.5% | — | -21.7% | |
| Lamps, lighting fittings and parts | — | — | 35,203,524.004000001 | — | 1,237,938.121 | — | 1,526,455.526 | — | 8,098,808.004 |
| YoY change | — | -4.0% | — | -2.7% | — | 0.0% | — | -15.6% | |
| High-tech products* | — | — | 333,290,973.984000027 | — | 450,365,147.745999992 | — | 162,168,674.219999999 | — | 5,505,083.155 |
| YoY change | — | 1.0% | — | -5.7% | — | -2.1% | — | -6.2% | |
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 exported 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).
