Cui Dongshu: Automobile exports are advancing by leaps and bounds, while auto parts are under pressure.

On April 19th, Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of the China Passenger Car Association, posted an article stating that from January to March 2026, the export of automobiles reached $40.8 billion, an increase of 58%. In March, automobile exports reached $13.8 billion, an increase of 44%, indicating strong vitality in the Chinese automobile market. On the other hand, the export of automobile components reached $24.2 billion, a 5% increase from January to March 2026, but in March, there was a 12% decrease, indicating significant pressure in this sector. The article emphasized the need to follow the development of domestic car manufacturers and to change the reliance on the after-sales system of Europe and the United States. Recently, the General Administration of Customs released the import and export data for January to March 2026. The overall performance of China's goods trade exports in 2026 showed strong growth, with exports reaching $977.6 billion in the first quarter, a 14% increase compared to the same period last year. In March alone, exports reached a record high of $321 billion. However, there was a significant increase in imports to $269.9 billion, resulting in a sharp decrease in trade surplus to $51.1 billion. China's trade surplus with European and American countries remains significant, with a monthly average surplus of $20 billion with the United States, $30 billion with Hong Kong, and around $10 billion with India and Vietnam. Despite various factors affecting global demand, China's export performance remains excellent overall. In the first three months of 2026, lithium battery exports reached $24 billion, showing a 55% increase. In March, lithium battery exports surged to $9.7 billion, a 69% year-on-year increase. Additionally, exports of CECEP Solar Energy batteries reached $17.2 billion in the first quarter, showing a 34% increase, with a significant increase to $9.1 billion in March, an 84% year-on-year increase. The article also discussed the trends in China's goods trade exports, the trade surplus, the performance in various regions, and the overall performance of exports to the United States. Furthermore, the article highlighted the strong performance of automobile exports, with a 58% increase in January to March 2026, and the significant growth in lithium battery and solar energy battery exports. Lastly, it mentioned the challenges faced in automobile component exports, the stabilization of overall trade surplus with the United States, and the fluctuations in the export of motorcycles.