Cui Dongshu: Auto exports reached $129.1 billion in January-August, up 53%; China's auto industry is highly dynamic.

Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of the China Passenger Car Association, wrote that auto exports reached $129.1 billion in January-August 2026, up 53%. Auto exports in August reached $18.3 billion, up 43%. China's auto industry is highly dynamic. Auto parts exports reached $69.8 billion in January-August 2026, up 8%. Auto parts exports in August reached $9.1 billion, up 7%. China's auto parts exports face enormous pressure. Motorcycle exports reached $15.5 billion in January-August 2026, up 26%. Motorcycle exports in August reached $2.1 billion, up 28% year-on-year. Fuel motorcycle exports slowed due to high oil prices, while electric motorcycles surged. It is necessary to follow the development of independent vehicle manufacturers and change the characteristics of relying on the after-sales systems of Europe and the US. Recently, the General Administration of Customs released import and export data for January-August 2026. China's merchandise trade exports showed relatively strong growth overall in 2026, with exports reaching $2,925.5 billion in January-August 2026, up 19% year-on-year. In particular, August reached $401.4 billion, the highest level for August in history, demonstrating very strong growth in China's export trade. From the perspective of China's trade surplus with the US, it has maintained a strong annual trend of over $300 billion in recent years. The China-US trade surplus of $199.7 billion in January-August this year was relatively good, and the overall surplus in 2026 still maintains a good momentum. In February this year, 81 types of goods, accounting for 53%, were at their lowest levels in nearly two years. With the appreciation of the RMB, export commodity prices in August this year showed significant growth at high levels. Only 14 types of goods were at the 0th percentile, accounting for 9%; 42% were at the high 50%-80% range; and 37% of commodity categories had price positions below 50%, a tremendous improvement compared to February. The new three items CECEP Solar Energy batteries and lithium batteries are means of production, different in nature from new energy vehicles, which are consumer goods, and their growth rates have diverged severely. CECEP Solar Energy battery exports have shrunk dramatically, while new energy vehicles have performed relatively well. In January-August 2026, CECEP Solar Energy battery exports reached $41.7 billion, up 13%. In August, CECEP Solar Energy battery exports remained at $4.5 billion, down 23% year-on-year. In January-August 2026, lithium battery exports reached $67.6 billion, up 40%. In August, lithium battery exports remained at $9.5 billion, up 33% year-on-year. In January-August, China's electric vehicle exports reached $74.7 billion, up 76%, of which August exports were $11 billion, up 65%. 1. China's merchandise trade export trends China's merchandise trade exports showed relatively strong growth overall in 2026, with exports reaching $2,925.5 billion in January-August 2026, up 19% year-on-year. In particular, August reached $401.4 billion, the highest level for August in history. June-August was in a high-level plateau period, demonstrating very strong growth in China's export trade. Overall, China's merchandise exports in 2026 show the favorable characteristic of stronger growth despite external environmental disruptions. 2. China's merchandise trade import and export trends From the perspective of China's foreign trade surplus, it has maintained a strong annual trend of nearly $1 trillion in recent years. The surplus in January-August this year was driven by the comparative advantage of the international supply chain, reaching $812.1 billion in January-August. In August this year, imports grew to $282.4 billion, while exports rose to $401.4 billion, and the trade surplus surged to a historic monthly high of $119.1 billion. 3. Performance of China's main export regions China's foreign trade exports have formed a super-strong growth trend in recent years, growing by $473.9 billion in January-August 2026. In January-August 2026, exports reached a high level of $2,923.8 billion. Among these, China's surplus with European and American countries was enormous in 2026, with a monthly average surplus of $20 billion with the US, a monthly average surplus of $30 billion with Hong Kong, China, and a monthly average surplus of around $10 billion with India and Vietnam all at good levels. In 2026, although various factors such as US disruptions caused supply chaos around the world, China's overall export performance remains extremely outstanding. In 2026, the largest year-on-year export growth was to some intermediate countries and regions that re-export to the US. Chinese products in these places are relatively strong, but some Middle Eastern geopolitical crises and traditional intermediate countries exporting to the US performed mediocrely. 4. Overall China-US trade surplus remains relatively good China's exports to the US formed a super-strong growth trend after Biden took office in 2021 due to pandemic factors, from $452.1 billion in 2020 to $581.6 billion in 2022, forming a strong growth characteristic. From 2021 to 2026, China's exports to the US formed a super-strong and favorable growth characteristic. From the perspective of China's trade surplus with the US, it has maintained a strong annual trend of over $300 billion in recent years. The China-US trade surplus of $199.7 billion in January-August this year was relatively good, and the favorable growth trend of re-exports should also be considered. The overall surplus in 2026 still maintains a good momentum. 5. Auto export performance is extremely outstanding China's export commodities are mainly mechanical and electrical products and high-tech products, forming relatively strong growth, including electronic components and electronic technology, all showing extremely strong growth. In terms of individual product performance, mobile phones showed a slight decline after reaching a high level in August 2022, while auto exports reached 43% growth in 2026, and auto parts also reached a historic high level. 6. Export average prices of some commodities The volume and total value trends of China's commodity exports differ greatly. The prices of some commodities have been relatively firm in recent years, especially storage components, fertilizers, container ships, refrigerators, and motorcycles performing relatively well. According to the high-low range of prices across months within the year, the average prices of meat, luggage, footwear and hats, and grain have declined significantly, at the bottom of the year's range. The campaign against involution mainly targets these products with significant average price declines. Due to the surge in international prices, the current domestic price increase effects are also quite good. In February this year, 81 types of goods, accounting for 53%, were at their lowest levels in nearly two years. With the appreciation of the RMB, export commodity prices in August this year showed significant growth at high levels. Only 14 types of goods were at the 0th percentile, accounting for 9%; 42% were at the high 50%-80% range; and 37% of commodity categories had price positions below 50%, a tremendous improvement compared to February. Due to price increases from the Middle East crisis, overall export unit prices are recovering. Due to RMB appreciation, dollar prices declined, while export dollar average prices recovered, which also brought about a decline in export profits. 7. Lithium-ion battery exports As an important advantageous product of the new three items, lithium batteries have excellent export performance, high profits, and good markets. Since Biden took office in 2020, among China's export commodities, lithium battery exports should be said to have performed relatively well. In 2022, exports were only $50.9 billion; in 2023, exports reached a super-high level of $64.9 billion; but by 2024, they declined 6%. In 2025, lithium-ion battery exports reached $76.8 billion. In January-August 2026, lithium battery exports reached $67.6 billion, up 40%. In August, lithium battery exports remained at $9.5 billion, up 33% year-on-year. 8. CECEP Solar Energy battery export trends As an important advantageous product of the new three items, CECEP Solar Energy batteries have shown large export fluctuations, with severe declines in the past two years and severe industry involution. CECEP Solar Energy batteries should be said to have shown explosive growth against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. In 2020, the overall trend was relatively stable; in 2021, CECEP Solar Energy batteries showed a clear upward trend; subsequently in 2022, CECEP Solar Energy batteries showed strong explosive growth, reaching $92.8 billion; but in 2023, with the relative stabilization of the overall energy situation, CECEP Solar Energy battery exports fell back to $87.6 billion. In 2024, they declined to $61.2 billion; in 2025, they declined to $56.4 billion, down 8%. In January-August 2026, CECEP Solar Energy battery exports reached $41.7 billion, up 13%. In August, CECEP Solar Energy battery exports remained at $4.5 billion, down 23% year-on-year. 9. Auto export value trends Auto exports have performed extremely well in recent years, rising from $34.5 billion in 2021 to $117.4 billion in 2024, forming an explosive growth trend, and still maintaining a monthly slight growth characteristic in 2025. Auto exports surged in Q4, reaching $142.4 billion for the full year, with auto exports generating enormous foreign exchange earnings. Auto exports reached $129.1 billion in January-August 2026, up 53%. Auto exports in August reached $18.3 billion, up 43%. China's auto industry is highly dynamic. In January-August, China's electric vehicle exports reached $74.7 billion, up 76%, of which August exports were $11 billion, up 65%. 10. Auto parts export value trends Auto parts and complete vehicles are two completely different demand systems facing completely different markets, hence the large growth rate differences. China's independent vehicle exports basically do not go to the US market, while China's auto parts exports have the US as the main market. China's auto parts achieved super-high export values very early. In January-February this year, parts exports remained at the $8 billion level, and August rebounded significantly, with the pressure of high oil prices being evident. Auto parts exports reached $69.8 billion in January-August 2026, up 8%. Auto parts exports in August reached $9.1 billion, up 7%. China's auto parts exports face enormous pressure. It is necessary to follow the development of independent vehicle manufacturers and change the characteristics of relying on the after-sales systems of Europe and the US. 11. Motorcycle export value trends Due to the surge in oil prices, motorcycle exports slowed. Motorcycles and complete vehicles are two completely different demand systems facing completely different markets, hence the large growth rate differences. China's complete vehicle exports basically do not go to the US, while China's motorcycle exports serve diverse markets. In recent years, China's motorcycles have achieved super-high export value growth, and motorcycle export unit prices have performed relatively well. Motorcycles are a model for automobiles to learn from without domestic market support, electrification and full market price competition have cultivated super-strong competitiveness. Motorcycle exports reached $15.5 billion in January-August 2026, up 26%. Motorcycle exports in August reached $2.1 billion, up 28% year-on-year. Fuel motorcycle exports slowed due to high oil prices, while electric motorcycles surged.