China’s import growth slowed in April 2026, with the year-on-year indicator easing to 25.3%, down from a revised 27.8% in March 2026, according to data updated on 9 May 2026.
Both figures reflect changes compared with the same month a year earlier, meaning April’s 25.3% reading measures how much imports rose versus April of the previous year, while March’s 27.8% showed the increase relative to March a year earlier. The moderation suggests that although China’s external demand and domestic input needs remain strong, the pace of expansion in import activity has begun to cool as the second quarter of 2026 gets underway.
Market participants and analysts are likely to parse the deceleration for signals on the sustainability of China’s recent trade momentum, as shifts in import growth can offer early indications of trends in domestic investment, production, and consumer demand.
