China's trade with Belt and Road partners reaches all-time high in early 2025

Trade exchanges between China and nations involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) increased 1.1 per cent compared to the previous year during the first three months of 2025, totalling US$733 billion and representing over half of China's overall international trade. This is reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

Customs figures released on Monday showed Chinese shipments to BRI member states expanded by 6.1 per cent year-over-year to approach US$416.3 billion, while inbound shipments from these economies contracted by 4.7 per cent to around US$316.7 billion.

The Chinese officials emphasised strengthened industrial cooperation, noting that processed goods accounted for nearly two-thirds of bilateral trade flows.

Agricultural exchanges showed particularly strong growth, with overseas sales of crop protection products and farming machinery jumping 15.5 per cent and 37.2 per cent respectively. Healthcare product exports maintained robust momentum, with medicinal materials and pharmaceuticals growing 14.6 per cent and medical devices increasing 5.1 per cent.

Infrastructure-related exports demonstrated particularly vigorous expansion, including railway systems (up 10.7 per cent), electrical machinery (17.4 per cent growth), and wind power equipment (67.4 per cent) as China continues supporting transportation and energy projects across BRI nations.

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