Import and Export Trade Data

In May 2026, China’s total import and export value reached 648.13 billion US dollars, representing a month-on-month increase of 2.3% compared to April of this year and a year-on-year increase of 22.6% compared to May of last year. Regarding exports, the export value in May was 376.78 billion US dollars, marking a month-on-month increase of 4.9% compared to April of this year and a  year-on-year increase of 19.4% compared to May of last year;Regarding imports, the value in May was 271.35 billion US dollars, representing a month-on-month decrease of 1.1% compared to April of this year and a year-on-year increase of 27.4% compared to May of last year.The merchandise trade surplus was 105.43 billion US dollars, with a cumulative surplus of 451.71 billion US dollars for January to May.

In May 2026, imports of mechanical and electrical products totaled 787.5 (exports: 1654.86) billion yuan, while cumulative imports from January through May totaled 3542.51 (exports: 7576.6) billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 25.3% in imports (and 18.4% in exports);In May, imports of integrated circuits totaled 49.69 (exports: 307.3) billion units, with an import value of 388.3 (exports: 243.85) billion yuan. From January to May, imports of integrated circuits totaled 1655.75 (exports: 965.05) billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 47.1% in imports (and 83.4% in exports);In May, imports of medical devices totaled 6.1 (exports: 13.18) billion yuan; from January to May, imports of medical devices totaled 32.35 (exports: 62.65) billion yuan, representing a year-on-year decrease of 6.7% in imports (while exports increased by 9.8%).

1.  General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 57 of 2026 (Announcement on Conducting Random Inspection of Imported and Exported Goods Beyond Statutory Inspection for the Year 2026)

http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/2026-05/08/article_2026050820254669719.html

Release Date： May 8, 2026

Effective Date： May 8, 2026

To protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers and safeguard the life and health of the public, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Inspection of Imported and Exported Commodities” and its implementing regulations, the General Administration of Customs has decided to conduct random inspections of certain imported and exported commodities not subject to statutory inspection (see the annex for the scope of commodities) in accordance with the law, effective June 1, 2026.

The random inspection work shall be carried out in accordance with the “Measures for the Administration of Random Inspection of Imported and Exported Commodities” (originally promulgated as Decree No. 39 of the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and amended by Decrees No. 238 and No. 263 of the General Administration of Customs).

Upon the issuance of this announcement, General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 150 of 2025 (Announcement on Conducting Random Inspections of Imported and Exported Commodities Other Than Those Subject to Statutory Inspection in 2025) is hereby repealed.

Attachment: Scope of Import and Export Commodities Subject to Random Inspection

Scope of Commodities Subject to Random Inspection

I.Imported Goods: Infant and children’s products, food contact products, daily-use accessories, adult shoes and boots, electronic products, low-voltage electrical appliances, etc.

II. Exported Goods: Infant and children’s products, low-voltage electrical appliances, etc.

2.  Measures of the People’s Republic of China for the Supervision and Administration of Import and Export Cosmetic Inspection and Quarantine (General Administration of Customs Order No. 284)

http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/2026-05/07/article_2026050714351018800.html

Release Date：May 16, 2026

Effective Date： December 1, 2026

Policy Interpretation:

The General Administration of Customs recently issued the “Announcement on Matters Concerning the Implementation of the ‘Measures of the People’s Republic of China for the Supervision and Administration of Import and Export Cosmetic Inspection and Quarantine by Customs’” (hereinafter referred to as the “Announcement”). To ensure that administrative parties and the general public fully understand and accurately grasp the background and key provisions of this Announcement, the following interpretation of relevant issues is provided:

I. Background and Purpose of the Announcement

On May 6, 2026, the General Administration of Customs revised and issued the “Measures of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China on the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Cosmetics” (Order No. 284 of the General Administration of Customs, hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”), which officially took effect on December 1, 2026. As some provisions of the “Measures” are stated only in general terms, this “Announcement” is necessary to provide further details to ensure that enterprises clearly understand the specific declaration requirements and the primary responsibilities they must fulfill.This Announcement supplements and refines the specific content and format of materials required for the declaration of imported and exported cosmetics, further details the scope of information to be recorded for imported cosmetics, and provides interpretations of relevant terms in the Measures, thereby promoting the standardized and orderly conduct of customs supervision over the import and export of cosmetics.

II. Key Issues Requiring Clarification

(I) Regarding the Declaration of Imported Cosmetics.

1. Clarification of the Entity Responsible for Import Cosmetic Declarations.

Pursuant to Article 45, Paragraph 2 of the “Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics” (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”), importers shall verify whether the cosmetics intended for import have been registered or filed and whether they comply with the “Regulations” and mandatory national standards and technical specifications; if the verification fails, the cosmetics shall not be imported. To clarify the responsible party, cosmetics importers shall declare to customs in the capacity of “domestic consignee” when filing their declarations.

2. Clarification of Requirements for Filling Out Regulatory Certificates for Imported Cosmetics.

Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the “Measures” requires that imported cosmetics must complete registration for special cosmetics or filing for general cosmetics in accordance with the law, and customs verifies compliance through automatic electronic data comparison. This Announcement specifies the exact fields on the customs declaration form where the required regulatory documents must be entered when declaring imported cosmetics.

3. Clarification of circumstances under which regulatory documents need not be reported.

In accordance with Articles 13 and 14 of the Measures, as well as the relevant provisions of the “Notice of the General Administration of Customs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Health Commission, the State Taxation Administration, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Railway Administration, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China on Further Deepening Reforms to Facilitate Cross-Border Trade and Optimizing the Business Environment at Ports” (Shu’an Fa [[][[]]2021] No. 85), samples used for the registration or filing of imported cosmetics,non-trial samples used by enterprises for testing, research and development, and promotional purposes; cosmetics imported by foreign diplomatic and consular missions in China, as well as representative offices of international organizations in China enjoying diplomatic privileges and immunities, when declared as official supplies; and exhibition cosmetics not intended for trial use or sale are exempt from inspection. The “Announcement” further clarifies that when declaring the import of the aforementioned cosmetics, there is no need to provide the special cosmetics registration number or the general cosmetics filing number.

4. Clarification of “other materials required by customs” for imported samples.

Article 13 of the Measures is elaborated upon, primarily categorizing samples into three types based on their intended use and nature.For samples used for the registration or filing of imported cosmetics, relevant supporting documents—such as proof of acceptance of inspection and testing applications—issued by cosmetic registration and filing inspection and testing institutions must be provided; for non-trial samples used for testing and R&D, documents such as testing and R&D plans and proof of the testing and R&D unit’s capabilities must be provided; if testing is entrusted to a third-party testing institution, a testing entrustment agreement must also be provided; for non-trial samples used for promotional purposes, a promotional plan must be provided, which should clearly specify the location of sample use, method of use, target audience, and method of sample disposal.

5. Refine the declaration requirements and required materials for imported cosmetic semi-finished products.

The declaration requirements for cosmetic semi-finished products specified in Article 34, Paragraph 2 of the Measures are hereby clarified. To better distinguish and manage imported cosmetic semi-finished products from finished products, it is specified that for imported cosmetic semi-finished products, “Cosmetic Semi-Finished Product” must be entered under the “Other” declaration element within the “Specifications and Model” section; “15-Non-Prepackaged” must be selected in the “Goods Attribute” column; and the name, address, and cosmetic production license number of the product filling or repackaging enterprise must be noted in the “Remarks” column.Since imported cosmetic semi-finished products are exempt from registration or filing verification and label verification at the import stage, enterprises shall fulfill their relevant responsibilities and declare that the imported cosmetic semi-finished products comply with the mandatory requirements of national technical specifications.

(2) Refine the content of information records for imported cosmetics.

Article 12, Paragraph 1 of the Measures has been further specified. To strengthen traceability management of imported cosmetics and ensure their quality and safety, the specific details that importers must record have been refined by referencing the declaration fields on customs declaration forms and taking into account the needs for product traceability. To facilitate better management by enterprises, importers with the necessary capabilities are encouraged to use information systems to record and retain relevant information.

(3) Specifying the materials required for pre-export inspection applications for cosmetics.

This provision refines Article 19 of the Measures. It clarifies that when applying for pre-export inspection, enterprises must declare that they have obtained a cosmetics production license and possess label samples and Chinese translations. Additionally, in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations, they must declare that the exported cosmetics comply with the standards or contractual requirements of the importing country (region).

(4) Clarifying the scope of “mandatory requirements of national technical specifications.”

Pursuant to Article 79 of the Regulations, “technical specifications” refer to supplementary technical requirements for the quality and safety of cosmetics formulated by the State Council’s drug regulatory authority in response to supervisory and administrative needs, where mandatory national standards have not yet been established.To ensure consistency with higher-level laws, it is clarified that the “mandatory requirements of national technical specifications” referred to in Article 7 of the Measures include not only relevant laws, administrative regulations, customs regulations and announcements issued by the State, as well as mandatory national standards, but also supplementary technical requirements for the quality and safety of cosmetics formulated by the State Council’s drug regulatory authority in accordance with the needs of supervision and management.

3.   General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 61 of 2026 (Announcement on Matters Concerning the Implementation of the “Administrative Measures of the People’s Republic of China on the Inspection, Quarantine, and Supervision of Imported and Exported Cosmetics”)

http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/2026-05/12/article_2026051211114383082.html

Release Date：May 11, 2026

Effective Date：December 1, 2026

To effectively implement the “Measures of the People’s Republic of China on the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Cosmetics” (General Administration of Customs Order No. 284, hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”), the following matters are hereby announced:

I. Declaration of Imported Cosmetics

When importing cosmetics, importers shall declare the “Customs Declaration Form for Imported Goods of the People’s Republic of China” to customs in the capacity of “domestic consignee.” Such declarations must comply with the following requirements:

(1) Under the “Product License” section of the customs declaration form, in the “Administrative Approval Document for Imported (Non-)Special-Use Cosmetics” field (license category code “526”), importers shall correctly enter the special-use cosmetics registration number or general-use cosmetics filing number obtained from the drug regulatory authorities.

(2) Samples used for the registration or filing of imported cosmetics; non-trial samples used by enterprises for testing, research and development, and promotional purposes; cosmetics imported by foreign diplomatic and consular missions in China, as well as representative offices of international organizations in China enjoying diplomatic privileges and immunities, declared as official supplies; and imported cosmetic exhibits not intended for trial use or sale do not require the entry of a special cosmetic registration number or a general cosmetic filing number.

(3) Samples for the registration or filing of imported cosmetics, as well as non-trial samples used by enterprises for testing, research and development, and promotional purposes, shall be declared in accordance with the requirements of Article 13 of the Measures. The “other materials required by customs” referred to therein are specifically as follows:

1. For samples used for the registration or filing of imported cosmetics, relevant supporting documents issued by the testing and inspection institutions for cosmetic registration and filing must be provided.

2. For non-trial samples imported for testing and R&D purposes, a testing and R&D plan and documents certifying the capabilities of the testing and R&D entity must be provided. If testing is outsourced to a third-party testing institution, a testing service agreement must also be provided.

3. For non-trial samples imported for promotional purposes, a promotional plan must be provided. The plan must clearly specify the location and method of sample use, the target audience, and the method of sample disposal.

(IV) For imported cosmetic semi-finished products, enter “Cosmetic Semi-Finished Product” under the “Other” declaration element in the “Specifications and Model” section; check “15-Non-Prepackaged” in the “Goods Attributes” column; and specify the name, address, and cosmetic production license number of the filling or repackaging enterprise in the “Remarks” column. Additionally, declare that the imported cosmetic semi-finished products comply with the mandatory requirements of national technical specifications.

II. Regarding the Record-Keeping of Imported Cosmetic Information

The information on imported cosmetics recorded by the importer shall include the customs declaration number, date of entry, name, brand, registration number for special cosmetics or filing number for general cosmetics, specifications, quantity/weight, production batch number and expiration date or production date and shelf life, country or region of origin, country or region of trade, name of the manufacturing or processing enterprise, name of the overseas exporter (agent), storage location, name and contact information of the sales recipient, and sales date and quantity. Cosmetics importers are encouraged to use information technology to record the above information.

III. Application for Pre-export Inspection of Cosmetics

When applying for pre-export inspection of cosmetics, the manufacturer, shipper, or their agent shall truthfully declare that the manufacturer has obtained a Cosmetics Manufacturing License, possesses label samples and Chinese translations thereof, and that the exported cosmetics comply with the standards or contractual requirements of the importing country (region). If verification is required during customs supervision, the manufacturer, shipper, or their agent shall present the relevant materials mentioned above for inspection.

IV. Regarding “Mandatory Requirements of National Technical Specifications”

The term “mandatory requirements of national technical specifications” as used in these Measures includes supplementary technical requirements for cosmetics quality and safety formulated by the State Council’s drug regulatory authority in accordance with the needs of supervision and management.

This Announcement shall take effect on December 1, 2026. In the event of any inconsistency between previously issued relevant provisions and this Announcement, this Announcement shall prevail.“Announcement of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on Matters Concerning the Implementation of the ‘Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Cosmetics’” (Announcement No. 110 of 2012 of the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine), “Announcement of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on the Issuance of the ‘Regulations on the Filing of Domestic Consignees, Import Records, and Sales Records for Imported Cosmetics’” (Announcement No. 77 of 2016 of the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine),the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine’s “Notice on Matters Concerning the Implementation of the ‘Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Cosmetics’” (Guo Zhi Jian Shi Han [[][[]]2012] No. 242), and the “Notice of the General Office of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on the Implementation of the ‘Regulations on the Filing of Domestic Consignees, Import Records, and Sales Records for Imported Cosmetics’” (Zhi Jian Ban Shi Han [[][[]]2016] No. 1462) are hereby repealed simultaneously.

4.   General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 74 of 2026 (Announcement on Matters Concerning the Electronic Data Linkage of Rules of Origin Between China and Malaysia)

http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/2026-06/01/article_2026060108483037184.html

Release Date：May 31, 2026

Effective Date：June 01, 2026

To further facilitate the compliant clearance of goods under free trade agreements, the “China–Malaysia Electronic Information Exchange System for Rules of Origin” will officially commence operations on June 1, 2026, enabling the real-time transmission of data on certificates of origin,back-to-back certificates of origin, and certificates of origin and movement certificates (hereinafter collectively referred to as “proofs of origin”) under the “Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations” (hereinafter referred to as the “China-ASEAN Framework Agreement”) with Malaysia. The relevant matters are hereby announced as follows:

I. When the consignee of imported goods or their agent (hereinafter referred to as the “importer”) applies for preferential tariff rates under the RCEP or the “China-ASEAN Framework Agreement” upon importation of goods by presenting proof of origin issued by Malaysia,and select the “paperless customs clearance” method for declaration in accordance with the provisions of General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 34 of 2021, they are not required to submit electronic data for proofs of origin or declarations regarding direct transport rules through the “Preferential Trade Agreement Origin Element Declaration System,” nor are they required to electronically upload proofs of origin.

When selecting the “paperless customs clearance” method for declaration, if the system prompts “Electronic data for the Certificate of Origin cannot be found,”from June 1 to November 30, 2026, importers may, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 34 of 2021, enter the electronic information of the certificate of origin and the declaration regarding the direct transport rule through the “Preferential Trade Agreement Origin Element Declaration System” and upload the certificate of origin electronically.Effective December 1, 2026, if the system displays the message “Electronic data for the certificate of origin cannot be found” and the importer requests early release of the relevant goods from customs, the importer shall apply to customs for customs duty security procedures in accordance with regulations; subsequently, upon confirming through the “Online Certificate of Origin Status Inquiry” function on the China Customs Origin Service Platform that the electronic data for the certificate of origin has been successfully transmitted, the importer shall complete the procedures for the refund of the customs duty security with customs in accordance with regulations.

II. Importers who choose the “paper-based customs declaration” method shall submit a paper copy of the certificate of origin when declaring the import.

5.   Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 21 of 2026: Issuance of a Blocking Order Regarding U.S. Sanctions Measures Against Five Chinese Enterprises Involved in Iranian Oil Transactions

https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zcfb/blgg/art/2026/art_78dd015b3fb94aa0b25d5ac98994aa4f.html

Release Date：May 2, 2026

Effective Date：May 2, 2026

Pursuant to the National Security Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Foreign Relations, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, their implementing regulations, and the Measures for Blocking the Improper Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Laws and Measures (hereinafter referred to as the “Blocking Measures”),the working mechanism under the “Measures to Block the Improper Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Laws and Measures” has conducted a comprehensive assessment in accordance with the law regarding the sanctions measures imposed by the United States on Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd. and other enterprises—including their inclusion on the “Specially Designated Nationals List” (SDN List), asset freezes, and transaction bans—on the grounds of their involvement in Iranian oil transactions. The assessment has confirmed that the U.S. sanctions against the aforementioned enterprises constitute cases of improper extraterritorial application.

To safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and to protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens, legal persons, or other organizations, the Ministry of Commerce, pursuant to Articles 2, 4, 6, and 7 of the “Blocking Measures” and the decision of the working mechanism, hereby issues the following prohibition:

No entity shall recognize, enforce, or comply with the sanctions imposed by the United States pursuant to Executive Orders 13902 and 13846, among other provisions, on the grounds of participation in Iranian oil transactions against Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refining and Chemical Co., Ltd.,Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group Co., Ltd., Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group Co., Ltd., and Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co., Ltd. on the grounds of their involvement in Iranian oil transactions, including their inclusion on the “Specially Designated Nationals List,” the freezing of assets, and the prohibition of transactions.

6.   Announcement by the Ministry of Commerce and Four Other Departments on Adjusting the “Catalog of Precursor Chemicals for the Manufacture of Narcotics Exported to Specific Countries (Regions)”

https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zcfb/blgg/art/2026/art_10dc1acab316456b83f69aff7c18e086.html

Release Date：April 15, 2026

Effective Date：April 15, 2026

To further improve the management of exports of precursor chemicals, in accordance with the “Interim Provisions on the Export of Precursor Chemicals to Specific Countries (Regions),” the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Medical Products Administration have decided to amend the “Catalog of Precursor Chemicals Exported to Specific Countries (Regions), ”adding three substances, including methyl 1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-4-oxo-3-piperidinecarboxylate, to Part I of Annex 1.

The revised “Catalog of Precursor Chemicals for the Export to Specific Countries (Regions)” is hereby published.Effective from the date of this announcement, exports of chemicals listed in Part I of Annex 1 to the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as well as exports of chemicals listed in Part II of Annex 1 to Myanmar, Laos, and Afghanistan, shall be subject to licensing in accordance with the “Interim Provisions on the Administration of Exports of Precursor Chemicals to Specific Countries (Regions).” Exports to other countries (regions) do not require a license.

Notes:1. Any salts of the substances listed in the above 16 items are also subject to control.2. The trade names of the above chemicals shall prevail; customs commodity codes are provided for customs declaration purposes only.

Note: The trade names of the above chemicals shall prevail; the customs commodity codes are provided for customs declaration purposes only.

Appendix 2 List of Specific Countries (Regions)

1. Myanmar

2. Laos

3. Afghanistan

4. United States

5. Mexico

6. Canada

7.The Office of the National Narcotics Control Commission Issues a Notice to Prevent the Diversion of Eight Chemicals for Drug Manufacturing

https://aqygzj.mofcom.gov.cn/zhxx/art/2026/art_af1c809b1af94858a39361183e45a106.html

Release Date：May 22, 2026

Effective Date：May 22, 2026

To prevent the diversion of eight chemicals, including β-bromophenethyl, for use in drug manufacturing, the Office of the National Narcotics Control Commission publicly issued the “Warning Notice from the Office of the National Narcotics Control Commission on Preventing the Diversion of Eight Chemicals into Illegal Channels for Drug Manufacturing” on May 22.

The Notice specifies the CAS numbers and customs commodity codes for the eight chemicals and reminds relevant enterprises and individuals that, when engaging in business activities involving these chemicals, they must strictly adhere to the requirements set forth in the warning notices issued by the Office of the National Narcotics Control Commission in August 2019, November 2023, and November 2025; enhance their legal awareness; and comply with domestic and international laws and regulations when conducting related business and export trade activities.

Notice from the Office of the National Narcotics Control Commission

In recent years, the problem of synthetic drugs has continued to spread globally, and the harm they cause has become increasingly severe. To evade law enforcement, transnational criminal groups have updated their drug manufacturing processes and sought to procure non-controlled chemicals for drug production, which has become a prominent challenge in the international anti-drug field.In light of this, on November 10, 2025, the Office of the National Narcotics Control Commission issued the “Notice on Preventing the Diversion of Precursors, Non-Scheduled Chemicals Capable of Being Used in Drug Manufacture, and Related Equipment,” reminding relevant enterprises and individuals to enhance their legal awareness, strictly comply with domestic and international laws and regulations when conducting related business and export trade activities, and guard against legal risks.

Recently, the National Narcotics Control Office has identified the following eight chemicals as posing a risk of being used in drug manufacturing and has issued a warning to prevent their diversion into illicit channels:

1. β-Bromoethylbenzene, with the English name (2-Bromoethyl)benzene, CAS No. 103-63-9, and Customs commodity code 2903999090.

2. β-Chloroethylbenzene, CAS No. 622-24-2, Customs commodity code 2903999090.

3. Propionyl chloride, with the CAS number 79-03-8 and the customs commodity code 2915900016.

4. Benzaldehyde, CAS No. 100-52-7, Customs commodity code 2912210000.

5. Benzyl chloride, CAS No. 100-44-7, Customs commodity code 2903999090.

6. Methylamine, with the CAS number 74-89-5 (methylamine) and 593-51-1 (methylamine hydrochloride), and the customs commodity code 2921110040 (methylamine) and 2921110030 (methylamine hydrochloride).

7. Benzyl alcohol, CAS No. 100-51-6, Customs commodity code 2906210000.

8. N-Methylformamide, with the CAS number 123-39-7 and the customs commodity code 2924199090.