China’s April exports hit a record $359.4 billion, while imports rose to $274.6 billion, the highest since 2022. The trade surplus expanded to $84.8 billion, keeping the country on track for a third consecutive year of trillion‑dollar surpluses.

The climb follows a 13‑percent increase in oil imports as prices spiked, driving overall imports up 25.3 percent year‑on‑year. Electric‑vehicle exports surged 52.8 percent, and semiconductor shipments doubled, reflecting China’s push into high‑tech and renewable markets.

U.S. trade remained a key focus: exports to Washington rose 11.3 percent, while imports grew 9 percent, widening the U.S. surplus by 13 percent. President Trump’s upcoming Beijing summit could pressure China to shift its trade balance, but recent court rulings that rolled back tariffs dampen that leverage.

These figures underscore China’s role as a global shock absorber and its continued dominance in manufactured goods, while highlighting the challenges domestic consumers face amid weak spending and a cooling housing market.