(Yicai Global) Jan. 14 -- Experts expect further gains in China's foreign trade this year after records were smashed last year, propelled by government support policies and international demand. 

China's imports and exports rose 1.9 percent to CNY32.16 trillion (USD5 trillion) in 2020. Though imports fell 0.7 percent to CNY14.23 trillion, exports rose 4 percent to a record CNY17.93 trillion, data from the General Administration of Customs showed today. 

GAC spokesperson Li Kuiwen said there would be further high-quality development of foreign trade this year. 

China introduced a series of policies to stabilize trade last year, and their effect will continue to be felt, according to Liang Ming, director of the foreign trade institute of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation. 

Liang told Yicai Global that a fall in the procurement of goods from China is unlikely even as countries recover from the pandemic and resume work and production. That is because many overseas traders may have gone bust. It will also be hard to find alternative suppliers at competitive prices, Liang said. 

‘Greater Share of Foreign Trade’

Last year’s eyebrow-raising trade data can be attributed to a surge in demand from international markets as well as policy support from the Chinese government, he said. 

“Only China can provide these goods as other countries face difficulties in resuming work and production, which means China will have a greater share of foreign trade,” Liang said, adding that the country has exported roughly USD120 billion worth of medical goods during the pandemic.

Global demand for such products and goods related to the stay-at-home economy spiked amid Covid-19, according to the GAC's Li. That led to a 31 percent increase last year in shipments of textiles such as masks, as well as medical equipment and medicines, which drove a 1.9 percentage point gain in overall exports, Li added. 

"The goods exported during the pandemic focused on the necessities of infection prevention and daily life," former CAITEC Director Huo Jianguo told Yicai Global. "But in the post-pandemic era, demand for consumer goods will rise accordingly. For example, electrical and mechanical products such as home appliances are still relatively popular."

DHgate, a Chinese business-to-business cross-border e-commerce export platform, saw a 15-fold surge in orders from Western countries during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the company told Yicai Global. According to the platform's data, the transaction volume of household goods more than doubled.

Editors: Xu Wei, Tom Litting