Chinese export growth accelerated 36.3 percent in September as shipments to the U.S. soared nearly 40 percent and apparel and footwear products had a standout month across all markets.

According to China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC), total exports to the U.S. across all categories surged 39.6 percent to $47.9 billion amid a seeming warming of relations between the two countries and easier comparisons to last September.

While the U.S. growth has helped fast-track China’s record export run, segments that haven’t been the sourcing superpower’s strength throughout 2026 have also rebounded.

Apparel shipments for the world’s largest garment exporter jumped 24 percent year on year to $15.4 billion, while footwear exports grew an estimated 20.2 percent to $3.5 billion, both the strongest such performances for the categories in 2026, China’s customs data showed.

Textiles also rose 19 percent to $14.2 billion, the second-highest single month growth rate since the 20.5 percent jump seen across January and February.

All three sectors rode the same tailwind that pushed China’s total September exports to $447.2 billion, sending the country’s trade surplus to $133.5 billion for the month. The month lifted the year-to-date surplus to $938.1 billion and keeps Beijing on pace to surpass last year’s record $1.2 trillion figure.

Apparel and footwear showed a genuine recovery, with the categories respectively experiencing year-over-year declines of nearly 30 percent and 40 percent in March.

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