Import Trade Values by Commodity 2026 Overview
Analytical Summary
China’s import structure in 2026 highlights a continued transition toward high-value manufacturing inputs, advanced technologies, and integrated global supply chains. While general trade remained the dominant import channel, bonded logistics and processing trade expanded more rapidly, reflecting the growing importance of bonded zones, export-oriented manufacturing, and high-tech production ecosystems.
Mechanical and electrical products remained the largest import category, with imports exceeding USD 635.9 billion, followed by high-tech products at approximately USD 530.7 billion. Within these sectors, integrated circuits were the single largest imported commodity, with total imports approaching USD 298.0 billion, supported by strong growth across all major trade modes. Automatic data processing equipment also recorded exceptional expansion, particularly through bonded logistics, underscoring China’s increasing role as both a manufacturing hub and regional technology distribution center.
General trade continued to dominate imports of agricultural commodities, energy resources, and industrial raw materials. Agricultural imports exceeded USD 110.8 billion, led by grain, soybeans, meat, and edible vegetable oils. Grain imports increased in both volume and value, while soybean imports experienced moderate volume declines but higher import values, reflecting stronger average prices. Fertilizers and edible vegetable oils recorded some of the fastest growth rates among agricultural commodities, indicating robust demand for agricultural inputs.
Energy imports presented a more diversified pattern. Crude oil, valued at approximately USD 151.0 billion, remained the largest energy import but shifted increasingly toward processing trade and bonded logistics, while general trade imports declined. Natural gas and coal remained primarily imported through general trade, although bonded logistics gained importance, particularly for coal and refined petroleum products.
Industrial raw materials continued to provide the foundation for China’s manufacturing sector. Iron ore remained one of the country’s largest bulk imports, while copper ores, unwrought copper, and copper products recorded substantial increases in import values despite relatively modest changes in physical volumes, suggesting higher commodity prices and continued demand from downstream manufacturing industries. Conversely, imports of plastics, steel products, wood pulp, and timber generally weakened, reflecting softer demand across traditional industrial sectors.
Consumer-oriented imports showed mixed performance. Beauty and personal care products remained relatively stable, while imported motor vehicles declined across all trade modes, suggesting continued substitution by domestic automotive production. In contrast, automotive components recorded strong growth through bonded logistics, indicating that imported parts remain critical for domestic vehicle assembly and advanced manufacturing supply chains.
Overall, the data reveal five key structural trends. First, technology-intensive products remain the primary engine of import growth. Second, bonded logistics has become an increasingly important channel for semiconductors, computing equipment, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing inputs. Third, processing trade continues to strengthen its role in export-oriented manufacturing, particularly for electronic components. Fourth, general trade remains the principal channel for commodities serving domestic consumption, including agricultural products, minerals, and energy resources. Finally, import values generally increased faster than import volumes across many strategic commodities, indicating higher average unit values, stronger demand for premium products, and an ongoing shift toward more sophisticated industrial inputs within China’s import portfolio.
Key Metrics (Number + Title)
- USD 3.71 trillion — Total Import Value (selected commodity groups across all trade modes)
- USD 1.87 trillion — General Trade Import Value (50.4% of total imports; dominant trade mode)
- USD 1.04 trillion — Mechanical & Electrical Products Import Value (largest commodity category)
- USD 635.9 billion — Integrated Circuits Import Value (largest individual imported product by value)
- USD 530.7 billion — High-Tech Products Import Value (strongest technology-driven import sector)
- USD 969.6 billion — Bonded Logistics Import Value (26.1% of total imports; fastest-growing logistics channel)
- USD 151.0 billion — Crude Oil Import Value (largest energy import commodity)
- USD 110.8 billion — Agricultural Products Import Value (87% imported through General Trade)
- 58.7% — Growth in General Trade Integrated Circuit Imports (fastest growth among major technology products)
- 46.5% — Growth in Bonded Logistics Mechanical & Electrical Imports (reflecting expansion of advanced manufacturing supply chains)
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* | — | — | 96,491,229.696 | — | 4,151,247.966 | — | 9,237,229.055 | — | 931,692.032 |
| YoY change | — | 10.8% | — | 26.9% | — | 26.9% | — | 9.5% | |
| Meat (including offal) | 10,000 tons | 295.445855 | 12,681,017.138 | 5.9621131 | 132,411.719 | 9.368305 | 338,869.552 | 0.0107029 | 334.532 |
| YoY change | -3% | 15.1% | -13.4% | -13.1% | 7.3% | -10.8% | -92.1% | -91.1% | |
| Fresh & dried fruits/melons and nuts | 10,000 tons | 463.009618 | 9,984,925.596 | 1.2630346 | 105,337.609 | 2.4519936 | 147,448.627 | 13.3360926 | 66,856.086 |
| YoY change | -0.1% | 4.9% | -37% | -11.4% | -47.8% | -40.4% | 123.6% | -56.9% | |
| Grain | 10,000 tons | 6,634.1920856 | 28,122,892.786 | 274.6670795 | 1,247,838.466 | 157.0421636 | 714,519.989 | 39.7131657 | 175,136.091 |
| YoY change | 12.3% | 13.1% | 49.3% | 67% | -4.2% | 0.4% | 62.8% | 70.8% | |
| Soybeans | 10,000 tons | 4,587.1667322 | 21,738,977.082 | 250.3301105 | 1,177,972.676 | 143.4611556 | 674,463.587 | 34.4845749 | 162,372.938 |
| YoY change | -0.8% | 5.3% | 85.1% | 99.1% | -9.9% | -2.9% | 81.4% | 86.2% | |
| Edible vegetable oil | 10,000 tons | 270.932297 | 3,620,158.626 | 3.0835997 | 35,544.57 | 66.7325679 | 790,416.533 | 2.0968326 | 23,552.017 |
| YoY change | -1.9% | 6.7% | 168% | 151.9% | 65.7% | 67.4% | 124.3% | 162.3% | |
| Iron ores and concentrates | 10,000 tons | 58,457.356697 | 59,298,585.235 | 56.7086999 | 63,543.486 | 4,020.2170961 | 4,343,606.087 | 352.4968944 | 234,607.658 |
| YoY change | 5.8% | 10.9% | 296.5% | 291.5% | 10.8% | 16.1% | 32.7% | 29% | |
| Copper ores and concentrates | 10,000 tons | 708.8045453 | 25,318,241.596 | 371.1112377 | 14,023,759.735 | 381.0082025 | 13,534,052.857 | 0.000241 | 12.855 |
| YoY change | 4% | 40.4% | -18.9% | 13.7% | 13.9% | 63.1% | -98.8% | -88.1% | |
| Coal and lignite | 10,000 tons | 20,478.5690789 | 16,632,260.223 | — | — | 430.5115962 | 635,797.023 | 1,630.9003997 | 842,703.824 |
| YoY change | -0.3% | 4.2% | — | — | 54.7% | 98.6% | 21% | 9.5% | |
| Crude oil | 10,000 tons | 12,988.0383143 | 77,659,869.435 | 3,424.0392236 | 22,426,121.361 | 8,348.927147 | 50,954,003.784 | 0.000008 | 1.205 |
| YoY change | -30.4% | -22.1% | 59.2% | 97.6% | 17.4% | 36.7% | — | — | |
| Refined oil products | 10,000 tons | 810.7832163 | 5,923,777.764 | 7.2575 | 95,691.639 | 925.2053363 | 5,574,836.443 | 0.0195179 | 836.21 |
| YoY change | -27.9% | -16.5% | 3.3% | 20.1% | 14.9% | 27.2% | 134.9% | 31.7% | |
| Natural gas | 10,000 tons | 5,467.7528593 | 24,129,203.569 | 0 | 47.424 | 276.3870241 | 1,399,816.967 | 0.7545865 | 4,321.517 |
| YoY change | -5% | -6.8% | — | 1940.6% | 43.7% | 29.8% | — | — | |
| Rare earths | tons | 30,561.335 | 450,328.587 | 587.157 | 60,941.474 | 3,735.331 | 140,980.821 | 19,002.823 | 505,851.162 |
| YoY change | -12.9% | 26.4% | -9.6% | 33.5% | -26.1% | 34.1% | 14.5% | 23.3% | |
| Medicinal materials and medicines | tons | 82,182.579 | 6,991,248.529 | 2,574.67 | 428,506.248 | 42,885.792 | 16,648,576.047 | 590.143 | 328,832.036 |
| YoY change | -40% | 1.8% | -27.8% | -55.9% | 6.5% | 7.3% | -87.9% | 4.7% | |
| Fertilizers | 10,000 tons | 798.9514329 | 2,967,123.526 | 0.0000121 | 0.661 | 30.9663513 | 145,591.907 | 131.5318044 | 490,462.55 |
| YoY change | 53.8% | 79.3% | -90.9% | -89.5% | -46.5% | -15.7% | 12.8% | 38.7% | |
| Beauty, cosmetics, and personal care products | tons | 89,818.049 | 4,231,424.15 | 6,216.34 | 86,243.028 | 68,906.537 | 3,382,291.617 | 1,576.953 | 823,160.378 |
| YoY change | -3.5% | 2.4% | 121.5% | -6.6% | -6.6% | -4.2% | 9.7% | 44.9% | |
| Plastics in primary forms | 10,000 tons | 830.2358223 | 13,213,369.251 | 128.1396653 | 2,173,399.039 | 109.0525465 | 1,945,778.334 | 0.7425821 | 26,057.955 |
| YoY change | -22.9% | -14.6% | -24% | -18.6% | -11.9% | -11.8% | 49.1% | -2% | |
| Natural and synthetic rubber (including latex) | 10,000 tons | 247.6801003 | 4,789,512.541 | 57.4354325 | 1,112,448.597 | 86.5591939 | 1,635,291.422 | 1.8513779 | 29,867.658 |
| YoY change | 5.8% | 2.8% | -22.5% | -22.4% | -12.2% | -11.2% | 146.8% | 252.5% | |
| Logs and sawn timber | 10,000 m³ | 2,504.7219 | 5,394,278.233 | 14.0423 | 54,489.824 | 5.5086 | 20,254.371 | 129.0592 | 277,560.085 |
| YoY change | -7.4% | -0.6% | -1.1% | 15.9% | -29.1% | -29.3% | -17.6% | -10.5% | |
| Wood pulp | 10,000 tons | 1,433.6553596 | 8,387,221.195 | 269.2858465 | 1,544,032.681 | 143.2679585 | 1,006,976.456 | 0.0031552 | 41.942 |
| YoY change | 1% | -6% | -6.1% | -1.5% | -5.4% | -11.9% | 22% | 22.8% | |
| Textile yarns, fabrics and articles | — | — | 3,651,642.377 | — | 1,335,937.535 | — | 751,256.515 | — | 33,387.483 |
| YoY change | — | 27.4% | — | -1.8% | — | 50.7% | — | 17.5% | |
| Steel products | 10,000 tons | 182.4160084 | 3,275,506.537 | 76.5890286 | 1,207,398.152 | 10.0273586 | 336,084.456 | 0.5184127 | 23,280.489 |
| YoY change | -10.2% | -4% | -11.7% | -10.4% | -24.3% | -15.5% | -22% | -6.5% | |
| Unwrought copper and copper products | 10,000 tons | 126.8725159 | 16,755,405.557 | 51.6680404 | 7,202,636.281 | 70.4270035 | 9,244,319.214 | 0.1374077 | 16,330.969 |
| YoY change | -13.3% | 19.2% | 12.7% | 50.8% | -0.2% | 36.2% | -48.9% | -33.1% | |
| Mechanical & electrical products* | — | — | 248,975,239.074 | — | 189,023,834.884 | — | 191,738,119.905 | — | 6,203,846.201 |
| YoY change | — | 21.1% | — | 38.3% | — | 46.5% | — | 6.3% | |
| Machine tools | units | 29,259 | 2,548,703.992 | 55 | 2,155.712 | 3,985 | 168,831.924 | 617 | 43,048.428 |
| YoY change | 19.2% | -1.6% | -47.6% | -67% | -55.6% | -38.4% | -20.1% | -9.1% | |
| Automatic data processing equipment and parts | — | — | 31,796,099.729 | — | 7,655,812.196 | — | 48,668,933.123 | — | 155,285.931 |
| YoY change | — | 48.6% | — | 7.7% | — | 134.6% | — | 50.2% | |
| Diodes and similar semiconductor devices | 100 million units | 960.95457938 | 5,467,938.046 | 919.61538915 | 3,281,585.503 | 617.2793853 | 4,005,291.896 | 5.46794884 | 176,389.832 |
| YoY change | 1.3% | 8.9% | 11.8% | 9.2% | -9.6% | 19.1% | 49.7% | 52.1% | |
| Integrated circuits | 100 million units | 1,419.24244329 | 87,862,334.558 | 1,168.72633553 | 117,642,966.795 | 452.53091246 | 92,092,213.362 | 6.95894324 | 422,969.532 |
| YoY change | 19.6% | 58.7% | 3.6% | 62.2% | -8.8% | 46.1% | -3.3% | 8.9% | |
| Motor vehicles (including chassis) | 10,000 vehicles | 18.6053 | 8,371,129.734 | 0.0655 | 58,872.241 | 1.3806 | 987,814.839 | 0.0416 | 19,520.932 |
| YoY change | -3.8% | -10.5% | -27.5% | -18.3% | -53.6% | -54% | -11.7% | -1.9% | |
| Auto parts | — | — | 8,048,421.737 | — | 1,010,756.46 | — | 713,832.835 | — | 28,058.111 |
| YoY change | — | -7.5% | — | 2.2% | — | 78.5% | — | 4.8% | |
| Aircraft with empty weight > 2 tons | aircraft | 7 | 46,707.749 | 5 | 755,524.185 | 54 | 3,125,479.539 | 10 | 547,000 |
| YoY change | -56.3% | -94.3% | -50% | -50.7% | -29.9% | -28.5% | — | — | |
| LCD flat panel display modules | 10,000 units | 21,794.1521 | 746,964.12 | 27,232.2549 | 3,986,055.935 | 3,369.8931 | 406,310.362 | 10.4132 | 3,168.536 |
| YoY change | — | -0.3% | — | -2% | — | -22.1% | — | -82.1% | |
| Medical instruments and apparatus | — | — | 1,777,204.448 | — | 137,353.717 | — | 3,839,331.558 | — | 12,137.85 |
| YoY change | — | -11.9% | — | 2.1% | — | -0.3% | — | -27.8% | |
| High-tech products* | — | — | 184,660,345.721 | — | 156,892,759.226 | — | 184,656,537.586 | — | 4,532,128.487 |
| YoY change | — | 29.7% | — | 43.6% | — | 48.8% | — | 0.4% | |
Notes:
1) “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.
2) 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).
