China’s imports surged 31.0% year-over-year in September 2026, accelerating from a 28.2% increase in August, according to data updated on 14 October 2026. Both figures compare monthly performance to the same period a year earlier.
The stronger September reading suggests a pickup in external demand and/or domestic activity relative to the previous month’s pace. In August 2026, imports had already been expanding at a robust rate on a year-over-year basis, and the further increase in September points to continued momentum in China’s trade flows on the import side.
The comparison is made on a year-over-year basis, with the “previous” figure reflecting August 2026 versus August a year earlier, and the “actual” figure reflecting September 2026 versus September a year earlier. This step-up from 28.2% to 31.0% highlights a notable strengthening in China’s import growth as the third quarter came to a close.
