China-ASEAN trade hits record high in first eight months of 2025

Trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached a record approximately US$694 billion in the first eight months of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 9.7 per cent, according to official customs data.

The figures confirm that China and ASEAN have remained each other’s largest trading partners for five consecutive years. Agricultural products continue to play a pivotal role, with ASEAN maintaining its position as China’s top agricultural trade partner for the eighth year in a row, as reported by CCTV+, a partner of TV BRICS.

ASEAN was China’s largest source of imports for several key agricultural goods, including fruit, edible oils and cassava. At the same time, China’s exports of speciality products such as down, feathers, and animal feed to ASEAN achieved double-digit growth.

Manufacturing also served as a major driver of expansion, with manufactured products representing over 90 per cent of bilateral trade during the reporting period. Exports of machine tools surged by 56.1 per cent, while automobile parts rose 22 per cent. Imports of computer components from ASEAN increased by 47.4 per cent.

The next stage of integration is expected to advance under the development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, aimed at expanding cooperation, strengthening regional supply chains and accelerating economic integration.

Photo: tadamichi / iStock