China’s export machine is not simply getting bigger; it is reaching more broadly across the world. China exported USD 2.12 trillion of goods in H1 2026, up 17.6% year-on-year in USD terms, with double-digit growth across every major world region except North America.

Asia remains the anchor, absorbing 52% of Chinese exports, but growth extended well beyond it. Exports to Europe rose 18.1%, Latin America 12.8%, Africa 26.2% and Oceania 23.3%, while North America was broadly flat at 0.8%.

Traditional markets have not disappeared: the top 15 destinations still account for 62% of exports, and the U.S. alone takes just over 10%. Hong Kong SAR edged ahead of the U.S. in H1 2026, although its role as a major re-export hub makes it a special case.

In practical terms, China is finding more places to sell what it makes. That matters as trade barriers rise: growth across Asia, Europe and emerging markets gives Chinese exporters a broader base of demand and reduces their dependence on growth in any single region.