China’s trade in services maintained a steady upward trajectory during the first four months of 2026, expanding 4.9% year-on-year. The growth was driven by a massive rebound in international travel and strong global demand for Chinese intellectual property and digital entertainment.
According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce on Friday, the total value of China’s service imports and exports reached nearly 2.49 trillion yuan (approximately $364.65 billion USD) from January to April. The latest figures reflect an ongoing structural optimization of China’s trade balance, with high-value, knowledge-intensive sectors cementing their position as major economic pillars.
Outbound and inbound travel services recorded the most explosive acceleration across all service export categories. Travel service exports climbed 30.4% year-on-year, topping 147.15 billion yuan for the four-month period.
Macroeconomists attribute this rapid acceleration to a combination of expanded visa-free travel policies implemented over the past year and a broader global normalization of corporate and leisure travel.
Trade in knowledge-intensive sectors—which includes high-tech R&D, digital solutions, and creative industries—grew by 5.1% year-on-year to 1.1 trillion yuan. This high-value segment now commands a substantial 44.4% share of China’s entire services trade portfolio.
Within this sector, Chinese creative and technical outputs recorded highly localized breakout performances:
Cultural and Entertainment Services: Exports surged by 39.5%, reflecting the expanding global footprint of Chinese digital media, gaming, and entertainment content.
Intellectual Property (IP) Monetisation: Charges received for the use of intellectual property jumped 20.8%, indicating stronger cross-border licensing of domestic tech patents and brand franchises.
On the import side, the logistical demands of supporting robust domestic manufacturing and global supply chains pushed up shipping expenditures. Imports of transport services reached 316.45 billion yuan, marking a sharp 24.9% year-on-year increase. This represents the fastest growth rate recorded among China’s top five service import categories, underscoring intense cross-border freight and shipping activities.
