China's exports shift from footwear to AI services in 2025
In 2025, China's telecom, computer, and information services exports amounted to 808 billion yuan (US$118 billion), marking a 13% increase compared to the previous year. Conversely, traditional exports like footwear saw a 9% decrease to US$46 billion, while handbags and suitcases dropped by 13% to US$30 billion. Joseph Quinlan, a strategist at Bank of America, highlighted that China's emerging trade focus is on services, including ICT, engineering, construction management, data analytics, and R&D. Since securing its first international client, Putzmeister, a German concrete machinery manufacturer, in 2017, Guangzhou-based iRootech, specializing in industrial computer vision and AI, has collaborated with thousands of foreign companies, creating an AI maintenance platform that cut Putzmeister's after-sales travel expenses by 25%. This transition signifies China's advancement from traditional goods to technology and services.
Key facts
- China's exports of telecoms, computer and information services reached 808 billion yuan (US$118 billion) in 2025, up 13% year-on-year.
- Footwear exports fell 9% to US$46 billion in the same period.
- Handbag and suitcase exports declined 13% to US$30 billion.
- Bank of America chief market strategist Joseph Quinlan highlighted China's new trade front in services like ICT, construction management, engineering, data analytics, and R&D.
- Guangzhou-based iRootech exports industrial computer vision and AI technology.
- iRootech's first foreign client was German concrete machinery maker Putzmeister in 2017.
- iRootech developed an AI maintenance platform that reduced Putzmeister's after-sales travel costs by 25%.
- Putzmeister operates in more than 30 countries.
Entities
Institutions
- Bank of America
- Financial Times
- iRootech
- Putzmeister
- Xinhua
- Zhejiang XCC Group
Locations
- China
- Guangzhou
- Guangdong province
- Shaoxing
- Zhejiang province
- Germany