EU-China trade: facts and figures
The EU and China together account for almost 30% of global trade in goods and services and for over a third of global GDP.
The EU has a multifaceted policy approach to China.
In 2024, EU-China trade in goods and services exceeded €845 billion.
Stacked bar chart representing EU exports to China and EU imports from China in 2024:
- EU imports of goods: €519 billion
- EU imports of services: €45.5 billion
- EU exports of goods: €213.2 billion
- EU exports of services: €67.3 billion
China is the EU's third largest trading partner for goods and services combined, while the EU is China's top trading partner.
Trade in goods (2024)
In 2024, the EU exported goods worth €213.2 billion to China and imported goods worth €519 billion. This represents a trade deficit of more than €300 billion.
Compared with 2023, both imports and exports decreased (by 0.3% and 4.6%, respectively).
Between 2014 and 2024, EU imports from China increased by over 102%, while its exports to China grew by almost 47%.
Top goods the EU imports from China
Telecommunications and audio equipment
Office machines, personal computers and others
Electrical machinery and equipment
Top goods the EU exports to China
Machinery
Motor cars and motor vehicles
Motor vehicle parts
Trade in services (2024)
In 2024, EU-China trade in services exceeded €112 billion. The top services included:
Transport services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
Telecommunications, computer and information services (for the EU's exports)
Charges for the use of intellectual property (for the EU’s exports)
Foreign direct investments
The EU's investment stock in China stood at almost €232 billion in 2023 and EU foreign direct investment (FDI) reached €10.1 billion in 2024. The top three sectors were automotive, basic materials and information and communication technology.
China's investment stock in the EU stood at almost €65 billion in 2023, and Chinese FDI flow totalled €9.4 billion in 2024 (versus €5.2 billion in 2023). The top three areas were:
- automotive
- entertainment, media and education
- consumer products and services
See also
Last review: 8 August 2025