China’s balance of trade came in at 105.28 for October 2026, according to data released in China. The reading was below the market forecast of 125.8. It was also lower than the previous period’s figure of 133.53, which means the surplus narrowed from that earlier level.
What the figure measures
The balance of trade is the difference between the value of goods a country exports and the value of goods it imports over a given period. A positive reading indicates a surplus, meaning exports exceeded imports, while a lower reading means that gap has shrunk. The October figure was released at 10 Nov 2026 03:00 GMT.
Economists compare the reported figure with forecasts because the gap between expectations and outcomes can move currency and bond markets. In this release, the reading fell short of the forecast by a wide margin, and it also declined from the previous period.
Comparison with forecast and previous period
Against the forecast of 125.8, the reported 105.28 was below expectations. Against the previous period’s 133.53, the figure was also lower, so the two comparisons point in the same direction for this release.
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