China's Service Trade Total Grows 8.3% in H1 2026, Deficit Narrows
China's service trade totaled RMB 3,779.75 billion in the first half of 2026, up 8.3% year on year, with the deficit narrowing to RMB 770.35 billion. Exports grew 17.6% to RMB 1,504.7 billion, while imports rose 2.9% to RMB 2,275.05 billion. Knowledge-intensive services expanded 6.7%, accounting for 44% of the total, with strong growth in personal cultural and entertainment exports (57.2%) and intellectual property royalties (44.3%). Travel service exports rose 31.1% and transport service imports increased 30.4%, leading their respective categories.
From January to June 2026, China's total service trade volume reached RMB 3,779.75 billion, up 8.3% year on year. Service exports amounted to RMB 1,504.7 billion, up 17.6%, while service imports totaled RMB 2,275.05 billion, up 2.9%. The service trade deficit stood at RMB 770.35 billion, narrowing by RMB 161.42 billion compared with the same period in 2025. Knowledge-intensive service trade continued to grow. In the first half, knowledge-intensive service imports and exports reached RMB 1,663.4 billion, up 6.7%, accounting for 44% of the total service trade. Knowledge-intensive service exports grew 12.8% to RMB 805.67 billion, representing 53.5% of total service exports. Among these, personal cultural and entertainment services exports surged 57.2%, and intellectual property royalty exports rose 44.3%, recording the fastest growth. Knowledge-intensive service imports totaled RMB 857.73 billion, up 1.4%. Travel service exports and transport service imports grew rapidly. In the first half, travel service exports increased 31.1% to RMB 229.2 billion, the fastest growth among the top five service export categories. Transport service imports rose 30.4% to RMB 498.1 billion, the fastest growth among the top five service import categories.