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Strategic Lens

Australia and China

First country

Second country

In 2025, Australia sold USD 101.7 billion of goods to China and bought USD 82.9 billion from it. The DESTA database lists 1 trade agreement that includes both countries, the most recent being Australia China (2015). Both are members of the G20 and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 52 percent in 2023, and 50 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in goods runs both ways in similar amounts: Australia sold USD 101.7 billion and China sold USD 82.9 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in machinery, vehicles and iron and steel grew 84 percent, from USD 12.4 billion in 2019 to USD 22.8 billion in 2025.
  • BothTrade in pharmaceutical products runs both ways in similar amounts: Australia sold USD 304 million and China sold USD 214 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils has swung between USD 1.66 billion and USD 13.0 billion since 2019.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Australia sold USD 2.60 billion of critical minerals and metals, against USD 21.4 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Australia sold USD 9.34 billion of agricultural and food products, against USD 1.66 billion the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); DESTA: Design of Trade Agreements database, version 02_03 (retrieved 25 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 184.6 billion
2025, as reported by Australia
Australia to China
USD 101.7 billion
2025, as reported by Australia
China to Australia
USD 82.9 billion
2025, as reported by Australia

What connects Australia and China

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Australia sold USD 101.7 billion of goods to China and bought USD 82.9 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, Australia sold USD 7.09 billion of mineral fuels and oils to China and bought USD 2.16 billion from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, Australia sold USD 2.60 billion of critical minerals and metals to China and bought USD 21.4 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Australia sold USD 9.34 billion of agricultural and food products to China and bought USD 1.66 billion from it.FertiliserIn 2025, Australia sold USD 3.6 million of fertilisers to China and bought USD 500 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Australia sold USD 259 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to China and bought USD 22.5 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, Australia sold USD 122 million of electrical and electronic equipment to China and bought USD 18.8 billion from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, Australia sold USD 304 million of pharmaceutical products to China and bought USD 214 million from it.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 1 trade agreement that includes both countries, the most recent being Australia China (2015).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20 and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 52 percent in 2023, and 50 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 14 thousand people born in Australia lived in China, and 656 thousand people born in China lived in Australia.

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