China’s trade surplus widened to $133.53 billion in September 2026, up from $88.72 billion a year earlier and surpassing forecasts of $118.1 billion. It was the largest trade surplus since January 2025, as exports rose more than imports. Exports jumped 36.30% year-on-year to $447.18 billion, above estimates of 25.5%, as the global AI infrastructure boom continued to sustain strong demand for Chinese high-tech products. Meanwhile, imports jumped 31.0% year-on-year to $313.66 billion, accelerating from a 28.2% surge in August and beating forecasts of 24.5%.