New data reveals that economic exchange between Beijing and Portuguese-speaking nations hit significant levels between January and August.
Lusophone trade with China surges during first eight months
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Lusophone trade with China experienced remarkable growth during the first eight months of the year. According to figures compiled by the Macao Forum from official Chinese customs statistics, exports from Portuguese-speaking countries to China climbed by 22.1 percent, totalling US$105.8 billion. This represents the highest figure recorded for the January-to-August period since 2013.
Brazil continued to dominate as the leading supplier to the Chinese market within the bloc. Brazilian exports advanced by 25.1 percent to reach US$90.9 billion, setting a new milestone for the time frame. Meanwhile, Angola reported a 9.8 percent rise in sales, bringing its total to US$11.5 billion. Portugal experienced more modest growth, with exports increasing by 1.1 percent to US$1.97 billion.
[See more: Record-breaking months fuel Guangdong’s foreign trade growth in 2026]
Other nations also noted notable shifts. Equatorial Guinea saw a 24.2 percent increase, reaching US$577.4 million, while Timor-Leste’s exports surged from just US$44,000 to US$2.3 million. Conversely, Mozambique faced a 19.3 percent decline, with exports falling to US$883.6 million. São Tomé and Príncipe experienced the sharpest drop, falling by 89.5 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
Trade with China: imports
On the import side, purchases by Portuguese-speaking countries from China grew by 21.3 percent to reach US$69.9 billion. Brazil remained the largest buyer of Chinese goods, accounting for US$57.4 billion, up 22.4 percent. Portugal imported Chinese goods valued at US$5.5 billion, marking a 21.1 percent increase.
Overall, bilateral trade with China across all Portuguese-speaking nations totalled US$175.7 billion, reflecting a 21.8 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. The overall trade balance was favourable to the Portuguese-speaking countries, which recorded a surplus of US$35.9 billion.
