HOME BLOG Vocation News From January to April 2026, China’s import and export data of steel, automobiles, rare earths, home appliances, etc.
From January to April 2026, China’s import and export data of steel, automobiles, rare earths, home appliances, etc.
General Administration of Customs of China | 2026-05-19
1: Steel
The latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China show that in April 2026, China exported 5.46 million tons of steel plates, a year-on-year decrease of 17.5%; the cumulative exports from January to April were 20.06 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 16.6%.
In April, China exported 1.81 million tons of steel bars, a year-on-year increase of 14.3%; from January to April, China exported a total of 6.05 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 5.9%.
In April, China exported 640,000 tons of angle steel and section steel, a year-on-year increase of 7.1%; from January to April, China exported a total of 2.55 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 14.9%.
In April, China exported 270,000 tons of steel wire rods, a year-on-year decrease of 4.7%; from January to April, China exported a total of 840,000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 10.5%.
2: Rare earth
In April 2026, China exported 5,309 tons of rare earths, a year-on-year increase of 10.9%; from January to April, China exported a total of 19,888 tons, a year-on-year increase of 4.9%.
In April, China imported 8,781 tons of rare earths, a year-on-year decrease of 30.4%; from January to April, China imported a total of 40,858 tons, a year-on-year increase of 9.5%.
3: Car
In April 2026, China exported 940,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 51.2%; from January to April, China exported a total of 3.25 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 50.6%.
In April, China imported 30,000 cars, a year-on-year decrease of 32.7%; from January to April, China imported a total of 120,000 cars, a year-on-year decrease of 7.8%.
4: Electromechanical
In April, China exported 25,375 industrial robots, a year-on-year increase of 89.2%. From January to April 2026, a total of 66,666 industrial robots were exported, a year-on-year increase of 35.1%.
In April, China exported 890,000 machine tools, a year-on-year decrease of 26.2%. From January to April 2026, a total of 3.23 million machine tools were exported, a year-on-year decrease of 29.9%.
5: Home appliances
In April 2026, China exported 7.48 million air conditioners, a year-on-year decrease of 0.3%; from January to April, the cumulative exports were 28 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 5.7%.
In April, 7.94 million refrigerators were exported, a year-on-year increase of 14.6%; from January to April, the cumulative exports were 29.8 million units, a year-on-year increase of 11.2%.
In April, 3.29 million washing machines were exported, a year-on-year increase of 12.4%; from January to April, a total of 12.26 million washing machines were exported, a year-on-year increase of 9.4%.
In April, 8.8 million LCD TVs were exported, a year-on-year increase of 2.4%; from January to April, a total of 34.41 million units were exported, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%.
6: Cement
In April 2026, China exported 2.66 million tons of cement and cement clinker, a year-on-year increase of 233.0%; from January to April, the cumulative exports were 8.85 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 289.7%.
7: Aluminum
In April 2026, China exported 600,000 tons of unwrought aluminum and aluminum products, a year-on-year increase of 15.3%; from January to April, the cumulative exports were 2.05 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 8.9%.
In April, China exported 520,000 tons of alumina, a year-on-year increase of 96.6%; from January to April, China exported a total of 1.06 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 10.0%.
In April, China imported 360,000 tons of unwrought aluminum and aluminum products, a year-on-year decrease of 1.9%; from January to April, China imported a total of 1.33 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%.
In April, China imported 19.74 million tons of aluminum ores and concentrates, a year-on-year decrease of 4.1%; from January to April, China imported a total of 77.68 million tons of aluminum ores and concentrates, a year-on-year increase of 15.1%.
8: Polycrystalline silicon
In April 2026, China imported 1,678 tons of polysilicon, a year-on-year increase of 75.8%; from January to April, China imported a total of 5,517 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 40.7%.
The latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China show that in April 2026, China exported 5.46 million tons of steel plates, a year-on-year decrease of 17.5%; the cumulative exports from January to April were 20.06 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 16.6%.
In April, China exported 1.81 million tons of steel bars, a year-on-year increase of 14.3%; from January to April, China exported a total of 6.05 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 5.9%.
In April, China exported 640,000 tons of angle steel and section steel, a year-on-year increase of 7.1%; from January to April, China exported a total of 2.55 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 14.9%.
In April, China exported 270,000 tons of steel wire rods, a year-on-year decrease of 4.7%; from January to April, China exported a total of 840,000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 10.5%.
2: Rare earth
In April 2026, China exported 5,309 tons of rare earths, a year-on-year increase of 10.9%; from January to April, China exported a total of 19,888 tons, a year-on-year increase of 4.9%.
In April, China imported 8,781 tons of rare earths, a year-on-year decrease of 30.4%; from January to April, China imported a total of 40,858 tons, a year-on-year increase of 9.5%.
3: Car
In April 2026, China exported 940,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 51.2%; from January to April, China exported a total of 3.25 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 50.6%.
In April, China imported 30,000 cars, a year-on-year decrease of 32.7%; from January to April, China imported a total of 120,000 cars, a year-on-year decrease of 7.8%.
4: Electromechanical
In April, China exported 25,375 industrial robots, a year-on-year increase of 89.2%. From January to April 2026, a total of 66,666 industrial robots were exported, a year-on-year increase of 35.1%.
In April, China exported 890,000 machine tools, a year-on-year decrease of 26.2%. From January to April 2026, a total of 3.23 million machine tools were exported, a year-on-year decrease of 29.9%.
5: Home appliances
In April 2026, China exported 7.48 million air conditioners, a year-on-year decrease of 0.3%; from January to April, the cumulative exports were 28 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 5.7%.
In April, 7.94 million refrigerators were exported, a year-on-year increase of 14.6%; from January to April, the cumulative exports were 29.8 million units, a year-on-year increase of 11.2%.
In April, 3.29 million washing machines were exported, a year-on-year increase of 12.4%; from January to April, a total of 12.26 million washing machines were exported, a year-on-year increase of 9.4%.
In April, 8.8 million LCD TVs were exported, a year-on-year increase of 2.4%; from January to April, a total of 34.41 million units were exported, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%.
6: Cement
In April 2026, China exported 2.66 million tons of cement and cement clinker, a year-on-year increase of 233.0%; from January to April, the cumulative exports were 8.85 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 289.7%.
7: Aluminum
In April 2026, China exported 600,000 tons of unwrought aluminum and aluminum products, a year-on-year increase of 15.3%; from January to April, the cumulative exports were 2.05 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 8.9%.
In April, China exported 520,000 tons of alumina, a year-on-year increase of 96.6%; from January to April, China exported a total of 1.06 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 10.0%.
In April, China imported 360,000 tons of unwrought aluminum and aluminum products, a year-on-year decrease of 1.9%; from January to April, China imported a total of 1.33 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%.
In April, China imported 19.74 million tons of aluminum ores and concentrates, a year-on-year decrease of 4.1%; from January to April, China imported a total of 77.68 million tons of aluminum ores and concentrates, a year-on-year increase of 15.1%.
8: Polycrystalline silicon
In April 2026, China imported 1,678 tons of polysilicon, a year-on-year increase of 75.8%; from January to April, China imported a total of 5,517 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 40.7%.
In April, China's electricity consumption was 820.5 billion kilowatt hours, a year-on-year increase of 6.0%
Major events in the nonferrous metals industry in April 2026
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