Manufactures imports in China
China: Manufactures imports was 49.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Manufactures imports in China, 1984–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2024, manufactures imports in China stood at 49.3%.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, manufactures imports in China peaked at 83.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 48.6%, in 2023.
That places China 168th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Manufactures imports in China, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 69.2% | — |
| 1985 | 52.2% | -24.5% |
| 1986 | 50.8% | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 81.6% | +60.5% |
| 1992 | 80.3% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 83.9% | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 83.7% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 78.8% | -5.8% |
| 1996 | 79.0% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 77.0% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 80.6% | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 80.1% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 74.8% | -6.6% |
| 2001 | 77.3% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 79.4% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 78.5% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 74.8% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 72.6% | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 70.8% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 68.2% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 61.8% | -9.4% |
| 2009 | 64.2% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 61.2% | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 56.3% | -8.0% |
| 2012 | 54.8% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 54.7% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 57.1% | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 61.0% | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 61.9% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 59.8% | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 58.3% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 57.1% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 59.9% | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 55.6% | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 51.5% | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 48.6% | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 49.3% | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 63.5% | 50.8% | 81.6% | 4 |
| 1990s | 80.4% | 77.0% | 83.9% | 8 |
| 2000s | 72.2% | 61.8% | 79.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.2% | 54.7% | 61.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.0% | 48.6% | 59.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More private sector data for China
- Merchandise trade 32.6% (2025)
- Food imports 8.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 2.58 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 2.4% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 91.2% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 3.77 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 2,682 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1934 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 1,836 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is manufactures imports in China?
- Manufactures imports in China was 49.3% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest manufactures imports recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 83.9% in 1993.
- What is the lowest manufactures imports recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.6% in 2023.
- How does China rank for manufactures imports?
- China ranks 168th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is manufactures imports rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Manufactures comprise commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 5 (chemicals), 6 (basic manufactures), 7 (machinery and transport equipment), and 8 (miscellaneous manufactured goods), excluding division 68 (non-ferrous metals). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.