China Q1 2026 Trade Profile: Exports At Scale, Imports More Volatile
Machinery dominated exports and imports, reflecting China’s role across the electronics value chain; gold and high-value inputs drove import swings.
Global Data Centre Infrastructure Is Highly Concentrated, With Africa Largely Absent and Asia Uneven
The U.S. and Europe dominate global data centre infrastructure, while Asia’s footprint is concentrated in a few hubs
China’s Trade Engine Has Shifted to Domestic Firms
Private firms now dominate China’s exports, while trade growth has structurally moderated.
China Leads Key Nodes Across Global Shipbuilding, Ownership and Trade
China dominates shipbuilding and fleet value while ranking among the world’s largest fleet owners by capacity and scale.
The Specialised Industrial Zones Driving China’s Trade
A small group of highly specialised zones anchors China’s trade machine.
Half of Global E-Commerce Flows Through China
E-commerce growth is global, but scale is overwhelmingly concentrated in China.
Asia’s Tech Hubs: Innovation Depth and Startup Scale
Asia’s tech landscape is anchored by a handful of full-stack hubs in China, Japan and South Korea, while India and Singapore drive startup expansion.
China’s Trade Engine Accelerates in 2026 on Industrial Strength and Global Breadth
Broad-based growth across partners and sectors, led by machinery and transport equipment, signals renewed strength in China’s export engine.
China Extends Its Dominance in Global Shipbuilding as Output Surges in 2026
Even as global ship orders declined in 2025, early-2026 data shows a rapid rebound, with China securing the vast majority of new contracts.
Lithium Supply Is Diversifying, But China Controls the Value Chain
Global lithium output is expanding in Australia and Chile, but China dominates processing and battery exports, capturing most of the downstream value.