China’s trade relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has reached unprecedented levels, according to new data from China’s General Administration of Customs. From January to August 2025, bilateral trade totaled 4.93 trillion yuan (approximately $690 billion USD), marking a historic high with a 9.7 percent year-on-year increase.
This surge reflects China’s strategic pivot away from US markets amid ongoing tariff tensions. ASEAN now accounts for 16.7 percent of China’s total import and export value, highlighting the region’s growing importance as a trading partner.
ASEAN has maintained its position as China’s largest agricultural trading partner for eight consecutive years. Agricultural trade between the regions reached 290.6 billion yuan (approximately $41 billion USD) in the first eight months of 2025, representing 20.1 percent of China’s total agricultural imports and exports.
Manufacturing cooperation has been particularly robust, driving significant growth in related product categories. China’s exports of machine tools and automotive components to ASEAN increased by 56.1 percent and 22 percent respectively, while imports of computer components and printed circuit boards from ASEAN grew by 47.4 percent and 22.2 percent.
The expansion coincides with China’s broader trade diversification strategy. According to New York Times reporting from July, Chinese traders have increasingly shifted focus to markets outside the United States, including Southeast Asia, the European Union, and African nations. Direct exports to the US dropped by over 20 percent in July as American buyers remained cautious about tariff implications.
Lu Daliang, spokesperson for China’s General Administration of Customs, noted that the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area is advancing toward version 3.0, with both sides planning to expand cooperation and deepen regional supply chain integration.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), September 16, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202509160197.aspx