What does China import? - Infographic

What does China import?

With the rise of the Chinese economy over the past decade or two, its import and export activities have long-captured the world’s attention.

This is especially so over the past year as the US-China trade war threatens fallouts that will have far-reaching consequences not only for these two economies but for the rest of the globe.

The iconic ‘Made in China’ tag is known worldwide for a reason. China is the world’s largest exporter and by a quite a stretch. In 2017, it exported $2.41 trillion worth of goods - nearly double the $1.25 trillion that the US (the world’s second-largest exporter) managed.

But its exports figures, while impressive, don’t tell the entire Chinese story. As the second-largest importer in the world, there is might in this aspect as well.

In other words, what does China export is just as relevant a question as what does China import when discussing the international economy.

Where does China import from?

According to the latest data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, China imported $1.54 trillion worth of goods in 2017 with a constant growth of approximately 1.3% annually. Neighboring Asian countries playing a key role, especially Japan and South Korea, both of which feature in the list of China’s top three exports and import partners.

Asian countries aside, most Chinese imports come from the US, Germany, Australia, and Brazil.

In this infographic, you’ll see:

• The evolution of Chinese imports
• The main countries from which China imports
• The main products China imports