China's services trade recorded steady growth in the first four months of 2026, expanding 4.9 percent year on year, driven by robust demand in travel and knowledge-intensive service sectors.
According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce on Friday, the total value of service imports and exports reached nearly 2.49 trillion yuan (approximately 364.65 billion U.S. dollars) between January and April. This consistent expansion underscores the resilience of China's service sector amid global economic uncertainties.
Travel service exports led the growth, surging 30.4 percent to 147.15 billion yuan during the period. This rapid increase reflects the continued normalization of cross-border travel and rising international demand for Chinese tourism and related services.
Knowledge-intensive services also demonstrated strong performance, rising 5.1 percent year on year to 1.1 trillion yuan. This category accounted for 44.4 percent of all service trade. Notably, exports of cultural and entertainment services jumped 39.5 percent, while charges for the use of intellectual property grew by 20.8 percent.
On the import side, transport services saw the fastest growth among the top five service import categories, totaling 316.45 billion yuan, a 24.9 percent increase. This reflects the ongoing recovery in global logistics and supply chain activities involving China.
The sustained growth in service trade aligns with China's broader strategy to transition toward a more consumption- and service-driven economy, reducing reliance on traditional manufacturing exports. The expansion in intellectual property and cultural services also highlights the increasing global competitiveness of China's creative and technology sectors.
Analysts note that the steady expansion of the services trade provides a vital buffer for the broader economy, supporting job creation and fostering international cooperation in high-value sectors.
