China’s monthly car exports rose past 1mn in June, a new record driven by a 71.2% increase from a year earlier to 1.06mn cars. This puts the country on track to export more than 10mn cars this year, up from 7.1mn last year and more than double the 4.9mn in 2023.

Overall exports jumped 27% year‑on‑year in June, compared with 19.4% in May and a forecast of 18.2% in an analyst survey by Reuters. Imports rose 36%, while China’s trade surplus stood at $576bn in the first half, down 4.7% from a year earlier. Wang Jun said the surge in electric vehicles matched the global "low‑carbon transition", fuelling demand for China’s green products.

Exports of rare earths fell 34% year‑on‑year, but green‑energy products such as lithium batteries rose 37.6% and wind turbines 35.6% in the first half. Chip imports rose 8.1%. The shift to exports follows a slowdown in domestic sales after EV subsidies ended, prompting Chinese and foreign brands to export more. This has spurred the EU and others to impose steep tariffs, while China defends its subsidies as legal.

By June, BYD sold 175,000 cars overseas, up 95% year‑on‑year, and Geely’s exports jumped 157% to 102,874 vehicles. Chery exported 191,062 cars, an 80% increase, setting a new record for four consecutive months.