人工智慧基础建设使 Samsung Electronics Co. 和 Zhongji Innolight Co. 等供应商受益，其中南韩对中国的晶片出口激增了200%以上。汽车出口增长了近40%，以弥补国内销量下降22%的冲击。此外，对美国的出口增长了近36%，创下2021年以来的最大增幅，对东协和非洲的出货量也分别增长了25%和19%。相比之下，对欧盟的出口增长不足8%，而自欧盟的进口则有所萎缩，使对该地区的贸易顺差扩大至超过30 billion USD（约300亿美元）。
Guotai Junan International Holdings 的 Hao Zhou 指出，强劲的出口为国内疲软提供了缓冲。然而，这一繁荣突显了K型扩张；服装和玩具等传统出口产品分别下降了4%和7%。ING Bank NV 的 Lynn Song 强调，国内需求依然落后于外部需求，2026年前五个月的原油进口量下降了5%。尽管石油和金属进口成本上升推动了出口价格上涨，但 Bloomberg Economics 的 Eric Zhu 表示，该报告显示出科技周期与贸易流动之间的联系日益紧密。
In May 2026, China's foreign trade experienced rapid growth driven by the global artificial intelligence investment supercycle. Exports surged by over 19% year-on-year, while imports rose by more than 27%, resulting in a trade surplus of $105.4 billion. Semiconductor and computer exports contributed to approximately 50% of this trade growth. Notably, chip exports skyrocketed by 111% to reach $36 billion, marking the fastest expansion since 2013, although the volume of chip exports grew by only 2% due to rising chip prices.
The AI buildout benefited suppliers like Samsung Electronics Co. and Zhongji Innolight Co., with South Korea's chip exports to China surging by over 200%. Car exports grew by nearly 40% to offset a 22% plunge in domestic sales. Furthermore, exports to the United States rose by almost 36%, the most since 2021, and shipments to ASEAN and Africa grew by 25% and 19% respectively. In contrast, exports to the European Union grew by less than 8%, while imports from the EU shrank, expanding the trade surplus with the bloc to over $30 billion.
Hao Zhou of Guotai Junan International Holdings noted that strong exports buffer domestic softness. However, this boom highlights a K-shaped expansion; traditional exports like clothing and toys fell by 4% and 7% respectively. Lynn Song of ING Bank NV emphasized that domestic demand still lags behind external demand, as crude oil imports fell 5% in volume during the first five months of 2026. Despite rising import costs for oil and metals driving export prices up, Eric Zhu of Bloomberg Economics indicated the report shows growing links between tech cycles and trade.