China's digital services exports reached new heights in 2025, with telecommunications, computer, and information services trade surpassing 800 billion yuan ($116 billion), according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. This growth underscores the Chinese mainland's accelerating shift toward high-value digital industries in the global market.
Major technology firms like Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance have driven this expansion through strategic overseas investments in live-streaming platforms, AI solutions, and cross-border e-commerce. Bloomberg analysis reveals China's digital trade surplus more than doubled last year to $33 billion, fueled by a 30% increase in artificial intelligence-related services.
Infrastructure development has kept pace with this growth, with Chinese cloud providers establishing new data centers across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. ByteDance's planned AI data center in Brazil marks its latest move to strengthen South American operations, while other companies are enhancing capabilities in online conferencing and gaming services.
Professor Chen Jianwei of the University of International Business and Economics noted: "The narrowing services trade deficit reflects structural optimization in China's current account, positioning digital trade as a new engine for balanced economic development." Experts suggest this trend indicates the Chinese mainland's growing influence in reshaping global digital value chains.
