China’s imports continued to outpace exports in August, marking the sixth month in a row of faster import growth, driven by industrial upgrading and efforts to open the economy further, officials and analysts said Tuesday.

According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China’s imports increased 22 percent year-on-year to 14.61 trillion yuan (approximately $2.18 trillion) in the first eight months of 2026. This growth exceeded the 14.6 percent rise in exports during the same period. Overall, the country’s trade in goods expanded 17.6 percent to 34.78 trillion yuan.

In August alone, imports climbed 21.7 percent year-on-year to 1.92 trillion yuan, while exports grew 18.6 percent to 2.73 trillion yuan. The sustained double-digit growth in both imports and exports extended over four consecutive months, reflecting stable trade dynamics amid global economic challenges.

Lyu Daliang, director of the customs authority’s department of statistics and analysis, highlighted that China is constructing a modern industrial system by enhancing openness. This includes deeper integration of foreign products and foreign-invested companies into domestic supply chains and the country’s innovation ecosystem.

Data showed foreign-invested enterprises recorded imports and exports totaling 10.15 trillion yuan from January to August, an 18.1 percent increase compared to the previous year, underscoring the role of international business in sustaining trade growth.

Analysts linked the robust import figures to growing domestic demand driven by industrial transformation and expanded market access policies. Lynn Song, chief economist for China at ING Bank, noted that technology products represent a significant portion of import growth, indicating ongoing investment in advanced sectors.

Supporting this trend, machinery and electronic product imports surged 31.6 percent year-on-year to 6.21 trillion yuan during the first eight months, signaling continued emphasis on technological upgrading.

The rise in imports aligns with policy directives aimed at fostering more balanced trade. During a Political Bureau meeting on July 30, the Communist Party of China Central Committee called for expanding international economic and trade cooperation, boosting trade in services, and promoting more equitable trade development.

These developments suggest that China’s strategy to open its markets and modernize its industrial base is creating broader opportunities for global businesses while gradually adjusting the country’s trade structure.