Beijing – September 12, 2026 -- China's trade in services reached nearly 4.45 trillion yuan ($663 billion) in the first seven months of 2026, up 8.3 percent year-on-year, according to Ministry of Commerce data released ahead of the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing this week.
Services exports outpace imports as knowledge-intensive sectors surge
Services exports climbed 17.1 percent year-on-year to over 1.77 trillion yuan, while imports rose a slower 3.2 percent to 2.67 trillion yuan, narrowing the composition gap even as the overall services trade deficit stood at 900.25 billion yuan for the period. Knowledge-intensive exports -- spanning telecommunications, information technology, finance and intellectual property services -- grew 12.2 percent to 948.28 billion yuan, now accounting for 53.5 percent of China's total services exports.
Beijing fair draws 90 countries and 1,800 companies this week
The CIFTIS runs Wednesday through Sunday in Beijing, with roughly 90 countries, regions and international organizations staging exhibitions or events alongside more than 1,800 offline company participants. Nie Pingxiang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the persistence of import demand reflects greater market openness while export growth in higher-value segments points to rising Chinese competitiveness in knowledge-based services.
Commerce ministry targets AI, cloud computing and supply-chain services for the 2026-30 plan
Vice-Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said the government will cultivate new drivers of services trade during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, targeting exports in R&D, design, testing, maintenance and supply-chain logistics. Officials plan to apply artificial intelligence and cloud computing to build new trade models as global industrial chains shift and digital and green transitions accelerate. Beijing itself is positioned as a testing ground for expanded market access and cross-border flow facilitation tied to the fair.
FedEx China chief cites rising demand for cross-border logistics
Poh-Yian Koh, president for China at FedEx Corp, said continued opening-up and services trade expansion are generating fresh opportunities for multinational companies operating in the Chinese market. She pointed to more resilient, diversified global supply chains and growing digital trade and cross-border e-commerce as sources of new demand for international logistics and connectivity.