2025年，高贸易顺差能否延续？——“反脆弱”系列专题之二

Trade Surplus Trends - China's trade surplus remains high, primarily due to the shift from processing trade to general trade, which has reduced import dependency [1][7][8] - From 2013 to 2015, despite a decline in export growth from 7.8% to -2.9%, the trade surplus increased by $192.94 billion [1][7] - The proportion of general trade surplus rose from 24.5% to 73.1% over the past decade, while processing trade fell from 60.4% to 10.4% [1][8] Industry Structure - Trade surpluses are concentrated in consumer goods and capital goods, with significant surpluses in textiles, electrical machinery, and automobiles [1][13][14] - The average surplus for textiles and clothing since 2017 has been $339 billion, showing stability [1][13] - Capital goods such as transportation equipment and electrical devices have seen surpluses increase by 6.7, 2.9, and 3.0 times since the first trade war [1][14] Country Structure - The largest trade surplus is with "Belt and Road" countries, followed by the United States, with the former primarily involving general trade and the latter processing trade [2][24] - As of June 2023, the surplus with "Belt and Road" countries surpassed that with the U.S. for the first time, accounting for 39.0% and 38.5% of total surplus, respectively [2][24] Formation of High Trade Surplus - Consumer goods maintain high surpluses due to self-sufficiency and price advantages, particularly in textiles where China produces 26% of global cotton [3][43] - The automotive sector benefits from technological advancements and cost advantages, with new energy vehicle exports increasing by 355.5% since 2018 [3][54] - In capital goods, the high surplus is driven by reduced processing trade imports and enhanced export competitiveness, with a notable decline in imports of electromechanical products [3][65] Future Surplus Prospects - Industries expected to maintain high surpluses include consumer goods like automobiles and mobile phones, as well as capital goods such as electrical equipment [5][93] - The transition from processing trade to general trade is a key factor in the expanding trade surplus, supported by industrial upgrades and price advantages [5][87] - The automotive sector's import dependency has significantly decreased, with a notable increase in export growth, indicating a strong competitive position [5][93]