Last year, the trade surplus exceeded one trillion US dollars. What is behind this number? Looking ahead, in 2023 it was 608 billion, and in 2024 it jumped to 992.2 billion, with a significant growth rate.

Domestic demand has not driven consumption growth in the past two years, but capacity is there, and factories need to operate. Therefore, various industries are exploring how to expand into overseas markets. The result is the phenomena we see: e-commerce giants like Alibaba and Pinduoduo going overseas, Yiwu merchants selling handicrafts on short video platforms, Chaoshan toy factories establishing branches in Southeast Asia, and even live streamers carrying equipment to Europe for exhibitions.

Why has Chinese manufacturing reached this level? The combination of scale, technology, and production efficiency has created a competitive barrier that is difficult for latecomer countries to surpass. From low-end industries like textiles and apparel, to mid-range sectors like smartphones and home appliances, and to high-end fields such as new energy vehicles, industrial robots, and drones, the entire industrial chain’s integrity and competitiveness are evident.

Without recent trade friction factors, the surplus figure might be even more impressive. Many semi-finished products are re-exported through Southeast Asia, Mexico, and other regions, easing the pressure on direct exports.

Looking at specific cases makes this even clearer. According to industry reports, the construction of Indonesia’s new capital and mining activities are very active, with demand for construction machinery surging. This should have been the domain of mature European and American companies, but it has become a stage for Chinese companies to showcase their strength. Sany Group entered the Indonesian market in 2008, and in just over ten years, it achieved the top market share.

In Thailand’s white goods market, which was once firmly controlled by Japanese brands like Mitsubishi, Daikin, and Panasonic, the landscape has now changed. In the first ten months of 2025, despite an overall decline of 4.9% in the Thai white goods market, Haier achieved a countertrend growth of 29%. This data reflects a comprehensive victory of product strength, marketing strategies, and market adaptability.