ASEAN continues to maintain its position as China's largest trading partner

On October 13th, spokesperson for the General Administration of Customs of China, Lv Daliang, introduced that China's total import and export value to ASEAN in the first three quarters of 2025 was 5.57 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.6%, and ASEAN will continue to maintain its position as China's largest trading partner.

The State Council Information Office of China held a press conference on the same day to introduce the import and export situation in the first three quarters of 2025.

He said that ASEAN is China's largest trading partner. Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN in 2021, the economic and trade cooperation between the two sides has become closer, and the trade scale has continuously crossed the 5 trillion yuan and 6 trillion yuan steps. Last year, it reached 6.99 trillion yuan, which is close to 7 trillion yuan. In the first three quarters of this year, China's total import and export value to ASEAN was 5.57 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.6%, accounting for 16.6% of China's total foreign trade value. ASEAN continues to maintain its position as China's largest trading partner, and the economic and trade relationship of complementary advantages and mutual benefit continues to deepen.

——From the perspective of consumers, it enriches the consumption choices of both parties. ASEAN has been China's largest trading partner for agricultural products for 8 consecutive years. In the first three quarters of this year, China's imports of agricultural products from ASEAN increased by 15.3%, accounting for 19.1% of China's total agricultural product imports. ASEAN is the second largest source of China's agricultural product imports. Among them, the number of fruits entering the Chinese market through the "golden passage" of the China Laos Railway increased by 37.8%, and the "tropical flavor" that Chinese domestic consumers taste is faster and fresher. At the same time, ASEAN is also the largest market for China's agricultural product exports. In the first three quarters, China's exports of citrus, lettuce, and other products to ASEAN achieved rapid growth, and ASEAN consumers can also choose more "Chinese flavors".

——From the perspective of enterprises, it supports the industrial cooperation between both parties. With the full implementation of bilateral free trade agreements between China and ASEAN, as well as among ASEAN countries, the benefits of tariff concessions and trade facilitation policies continue to be released. The integration of industrial and supply chains within the region continues to deepen, and the space for industrial cooperation between China and ASEAN continues to expand. In the first three quarters, China's exports of textile machinery and textile raw materials to ASEAN increased by 28.2% and 13.4% respectively, while imports of clothing increased by 9.3%; The import of rubber from ASEAN increased by 40.7%, and the export of automotive parts such as tires increased by 19.8%.

——From the perspective of importers and exporters, the trade channel between the two sides is smoother. China and ASEAN are connected by mountains and rivers. The joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" initiative and the ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan 2025 are deeply linked. A number of landmark projects, such as the China Laos Railway, have been completed. The three-dimensional connectivity network of both sides has become more perfect, providing strong support for deepening economic and trade cooperation. From the first three quarters, China's imports and exports to ASEAN through land transportation increased by 21%, and imports and exports through water and air transportation also grew rapidly.

Lv Daliang stated that China ASEAN relations have become the most successful and dynamic model of cooperation in the Asia Pacific region. The China ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 negotiations have been fully completed, injecting new momentum into the development of bilateral economic and trade relations and greater certainty into regional and global trade. China Customs will continuously improve its regulatory efficiency and service level, promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN to new heights.