Annual Comparison of China's Export Value by Major Commodity Categories (2018-2022)
Based on China Customs data, this article tracks export value changes of five major commodity categories (2018-2022), revealing enduring dominance of electromechanical products with decelerating growth, and an initial rise then decline in textiles.
Data Overview
From 2018 to 2022, China's total merchandise exports increased from $2.48 trillion to $3.59 trillion, with a CAGR of about 7.7%. Electromechanical products consistently held the largest share, but their growth rate gradually slowed. Textiles and apparel peaked in 2021 due to global pandemic-related demand and then declined. Chemical products rose steadily, benefiting from overseas capacity shortages.
Performance of Major Categories
- Electromechanical Products (HS84-85): Exports rose from $1.46 trillion to $2.06 trillion, maintaining a share of 57%–58%; growth slowed to 5.6% in 2022.
- Textiles & Apparel (HS50-63): $274 billion in 2018, peaked at $324 billion in 2021, then fell to $323 billion in 2022, impacted by order shifts from the U.S.
- Chemical Products (HS28-38): Increased from $143 billion to $213 billion, with an average annual growth of 8.3%, boosted by energy prices in 2022.
- Metals & Metal Products (HS72-83): Rose from $118 billion to $192 billion, slowed after 2021 due to weaker infrastructure demand.
- Other Goods: Including agricultural products, furniture, etc., total increased from $485 billion to $760 billion, with stable growth.
Trend Analysis
Overall, China's export structure is shifting toward higher value-added products, while traditional labor-intensive goods remain resilient. In 2022, global inflation and weakening demand caused growth to decelerate. It is expected that in 2023, the share of electromechanical products will decline slightly, while chemicals and new-energy-related goods will become new growth drivers.
Source: China Customs annual statistics, with some years adjusted based on industry estimates.
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