China's trade grows 20 % through October; purchases from Latin America at a record
Main image: container ship at the port of Vancouver, Canada (illustrative image). Photo: Daniel Miksha / Unsplash.
November 10, 2026. China's foreign trade grew 20 % year on year between January and October, to 44.81 trillion yuan, the General Administration of Customs reported on Tuesday. In October alone, exports rose 28.7 % to 2.79 trillion yuan, and imports rose 34.7 % to 2.08 trillion. China's purchases from Latin America reached their highest level for a comparable period, according to the agency.
For Mexico, the data can be read in two ways. China continues to sell more technology and advanced manufacturing products, and at the same time it buys more from the region.
China's 2026 exports: electronics, robots and storage lead
In the first ten months, China exported 25.99 trillion yuan, 17.6 % more than a year earlier, and imported 18.82 trillion, up 23.6 %. According to the Xinhua news agency, mechanical and electrical products totaled 16.81 trillion yuan in exports, an increase of 25.2 %, and accounted for 64.7 % of the total.
Within that group, some categories grew especially strongly:
- Storage components: +132.5 %.
- 3D printers: +104.8 %.
- Integrated circuits: +101.9 %.
- Digital cameras: +41.4 %.
- Industrial robots: +17.8 %.
According to the China Securities Journal, labor-intensive products grew only 2.4 %. By destination, trade with ASEAN grew 24.2 %, with the European Union 8.5 %, and with the United States 6.3 %.
Record imports from Latin America
Lü Daliang, director of Statistics and Analysis at the General Administration of Customs, said that in the first ten months China increased its imports from more than 150 countries and regions, and that purchases from ASEAN, Latin America and Africa reached their highest level for a comparable period. According to Xinhua, the official added that China's large market continues to offer opportunities to the world.
Wen Bin, chief economist at China Minsheng Bank, cited by the China Securities Journal, attributed October's performance to resilient external demand and trade in the artificial intelligence supply chain.
This result comes one day after China reported that its producer prices rose 5.7 % in October, so part of the increase in value may reflect higher prices and not only more volume.
China-Mexico opportunity: sell to China and buy technology with backing
Our reading: the data opens two paths for Mexican companies.
The first is to export. If China buys more from Latin America, Mexican producers of food, beverages, minerals or manufactured goods have a growing market. To start, it is advisable to review registration and labeling requirements, as we explain in our note on the report for exporting to the Chinese market.
The second is to buy. China's supply of electronics, cameras and industrial robots is growing, which widens the options for equipping businesses in Mexico. With the boom in trade in components such as memory and circuits, it is advisable to request quotes with written validity and review specifications before paying.
- Compare at least three suppliers for the same product and request complete technical data sheets.
- Confirm certifications and compatibility with Mexican standards before production.
- Have an inspection done before shipment, especially for electronic equipment.
At Ciaespinoza.com we do that work from China. The quotation and supplier search costs 1,737.68 pesos and the 8-hour quality inspection at the factory costs 6,243.12 pesos, both including VAT according to the store as of November 10, 2026. If you are looking for security equipment, check our video surveillance section.
If you want to request a quote for a product or explore how to sell in China, write to us on WhatsApp at +1 (555) 967-3577 or by email at info@ciaespinoza.com.
Sources: Xinhua, "前10个月我国外贸增长20% 保持强劲增长态势" (November 10, 2026); Guangming Online, same Xinhua article (November 10, 2026); China Securities Journal via 21 Jingji, "同比增长20%！最新外贸数据发布" (November 10, 2026).