China's goods trade totalled 25.4686 trillion yuan in the first half of 2026, up 16.9 percent year on year, Zhou Mi, a researcher at the Ministry of Commerce, said at the Mid-2026 Economic Situation Analysis Conference.

China's foreign trade grew 16.9 percent year on year in the first half, with imports rising 22.1 percent, far outpacing exports. This structural shift presents new opportunities for New Zealand exporters. As beneficiaries of the upgraded China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, NZ dairy, meat and wood exports to China are likely to increase as Chinese domestic demand expands.

Notably, private enterprises contributed 57 percent of total trade, indicating active small and medium-sized Chinese importers. NZ SMEs can leverage cross-border e-commerce platforms to connect with these flexible buyers, lowering market entry barriers. Meanwhile, the surge in mechanical and electrical product exports means Chinese-made equipment and components continue to gain market share in New Zealand, prompting local distributors to adjust their product mix.

Trade growth of 14.8 percent with Belt and Road countries offers additional opportunities. As the first developed country to sign a Belt and Road cooperation document with China, New Zealand companies may find synergies in logistics and infrastructure services. Understanding shifts in China's import composition and focusing on differentiated competition in high-value consumer goods are key for NZ SMEs to sustain their business in China.

Keywords: China's foreign trade H1, total imports and exports, year-on-year growth, structural optimisation, regional balance, private enterprises, mechanical and electrical products, Belt and Road, June data

商务部研究员周密在2026年中经济形势分析会上指出，上半年中国货物进出口总额254686亿元，同比增

中国上半年外贸增长16.9%，进口增速22.1%远超出口，这一结构性变化对新西兰出口商带来新机遇。作为中新自贸协定升级后的受益者，新西兰乳制品、肉类和木材对华出口可能随中国内需扩大而提升。尤其值得关注的是，民营企业贡献了57%的进出口额，说明中国中小型进口商活跃，NZ SME可通过跨境电商平台对接这些灵活买家，降低市场进入门槛。

同时，机电产品出口激增也意味着中国制造设备与零配件在新西兰市场继续扩大份额，本地经销商需调整产品组合。对于一带一路沿线国家贸易增长14.8%，新西兰作为首个与中国签署一带一路合作文件的发达国家，其企业在物流和基建服务上或可寻找协同点。理解中国进口品类构成变化，聚焦高附加值消费品的差异化竞争，是NZ中小企业在华业务持续的关键。

关键词: 上半年中国外贸, 进出口总额, 同比增长, 结构优化, 区域平衡, 民营企业, 机电产品, 一带一路, 6月数据

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Source: China Development Network