$3.4T
Total global trade surplus in 2023 (Latest Complete Data)
+$1.3T
China's surplus alone
65
Countries with surplus
161
Countries with deficit
Trade Surplus Rankings 2024-2025: Complete Analysis & Economic Impact
Comprehensive analysis of countries with positive trade balances based on 2023 official trade datafrom UN Comtrade and CEPII BACI databases. Trade surplus indicates exports exceeding imports.📊 2024 data expected January 2026 • 2025 data expected January 2027 • 2026 data expected January 2028
Quick Answer
Based on the latest complete data (2023), China maintains the world's largest trade surplus at +$1.3T, a position strengthened by its manufacturing dominance and export-oriented economy. China's surplus represents approximately37.4% of all global trade surpluses combined.
Top 10 Trade Surplus Countries (2023):
- China: +$1.3T surplus
- Germany: +$245B surplus
- Russian Federation: +$187B surplus
- Rep. of Korea: +$164B surplus
- Viet Nam: +$146B surplus
- Other Asia, nes: +$133B surplus
- Australia: +$103B surplus
- Ireland: +$100B surplus
- Brazil: +$100B surplus
- Saudi Arabia: +$96B surplus
Total countries with trade surplus: 65 | Total global surplus: $3.4T
Key Economic Insights:
- • China's trade surplus (+$1.3T) exceeds the GDP of most countries
- • Germany's surplus reflects its manufacturing excellence in automotive, machinery, and chemicals
- • Resource exporters like Russia and Saudi Arabia benefit from global energy demand
- • Asian economies dominate surplus rankings through export-oriented manufacturing strategies
What is a trade surplus?
A trade surplus occurs when a country's total exports exceed its total imports over a specific period. Countries with trade surpluses are net exporters, meaning they sell more goods and services abroad than they purchase from other nations. This typically indicates competitive export industries and can contribute to currency appreciation and economic growth.
Top 10 Trade Surplus Countries - Quick Reference
| Rank | Country | Trade Surplus | % of Global Surplus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | +$1.3T | 37.4% |
| 2 | Germany | +$245B | 7.1% |
| 3 | Russian Federation | +$187B | 5.4% |
| 4 | Rep. of Korea | +$164B | 4.8% |
| 5 | Viet Nam | +$146B | 4.2% |
| 6 | Other Asia, nes | +$133B | 3.9% |
| 7 | Australia | +$103B | 3.0% |
| 8 | Ireland | +$100B | 2.9% |
| 9 | Brazil | +$100B | 2.9% |
| 10 | Saudi Arabia | +$96B | 2.8% |
Key Facts
Largest Surplus
China (+$1.3T)
Countries with Surplus
65
Total Global Surplus
$3.4T (2023)
Countries with Deficit
161
Second Largest Surplus
Germany (+$245B)
Asia's Dominance
52.0% of global surplus
$100B+ Club
7 countries
Europe's Share
14.0% of global surplus
Economic Impact of Trade Surpluses
Trade Surplus Strategies:
China's $823B surplus stems from its role as the world's factory, manufacturing everything from electronics to textiles for global markets.Germany's $250B surplus reflects precision engineering excellence in automobiles, machinery, and chemicals that command premium prices globally.Resource exporters like Russia ($180B) and Saudi Arabia ($156B) benefit from global energy demand and commodity price cycles.
Trade surpluses indicate countries that are net creditors to the world, accumulating foreign currency reserves and international assets. These surpluses often reflect competitive advantages in specific industries, whether through low-cost manufacturing (China), high-quality engineering (Germany), or abundant natural resources (Russia, Saudi Arabia).
However, persistent large surpluses can create global imbalances and trade tensions. Surplus countries may face pressure to appreciate their currencies or open their markets, while deficit countries may impose trade barriers or demand reciprocal access. The sustainability of these surpluses depends on maintaining competitive advantages and managing international economic relationships.
Complete Trade Surplus Rankings: 65 Countries
Click any country to view detailed trade analysis and bilateral relationships
| Rank | Country | Trade Surplus | % of Global | Surplus Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
🥇1 |  | +$1.3T | 37.4% | 37.4% |
🥈2 |  | +$245B | 7.1% | 7.1% |
🥉3 |  | +$187B | 5.4% | 5.4% |
4 |  | +$164B | 4.8% | 4.8% |
5 |  | +$146B | 4.2% | 4.2% |
6 | 🌐 Other Asia, nes | +$133B | 3.9% | 3.9% |
7 |  | +$103B | 3.0% | 3.0% |
8 |  | +$100B | 2.9% | 2.9% |
9 |  | +$100B | 2.9% | 2.9% |
10 |  | +$96B | 2.8% | 2.8% |
11 |  | +$94B | 2.7% | 2.7% |
12 |  | +$80B | 2.3% | 2.3% |
13 |  | +$77B | 2.2% | 2.2% |
14 | 🌐 Indonesia | +$71B | 2.0% | 2.0% |
15 |  | +$67B | 1.9% | 1.9% |
16 |  | +$46B | 1.3% | 1.3% |
17 |  | +$38B | 1.1% | 1.1% |
18 |  | +$37B | 1.1% | 1.1% |
19 |  | +$31B | 0.9% | |
20 |  | +$28B | 0.8% | |
21 |  | +$28B | 0.8% | |
22 |  | +$21B | 0.6% | |
23 |  | +$18B | 0.5% | |
24 |  | +$16B | 0.5% | |
25 |  | +$15B | 0.4% | |
26 |  | +$14B | 0.4% | |
27 |  | +$13B | 0.4% | |
28 |  | +$13B | 0.4% | |
29 |  | +$12B | 0.4% | |
30 |  | +$12B | 0.4% | |
31 |  | +$11B | 0.3% | |
32 |  | +$11B | 0.3% | |
33 |  | +$11B | 0.3% | |
34 |  | +$11B | 0.3% | |
35 |  | +$10B | 0.3% | |
36 |  | +$8B | 0.2% | |
37 |  | +$8B | 0.2% | |
38 |  | +$8B | 0.2% | |
39 |  | +$7B | 0.2% | |
40 |  | +$7B | 0.2% | |
41 |  | +$7B | 0.2% | |
42 |  | +$6B | 0.2% | |
43 |  | +$6B | 0.2% | |
44 |  | +$5B | 0.2% | |
45 |  | +$5B | 0.2% | |
46 |  | +$5B | 0.1% | |
47 |  | +$4B | 0.1% | |
48 |  | +$4B | 0.1% | |
49 |  | +$3B | 0.1% | |
50 |  | +$3B | 0.1% | |
51 |  | +$3B | 0.1% | |
52 |  | +$2B | 0.1% | |
53 |  | +$2B | 0.0% | |
54 |  | +$2B | 0.0% | |
55 |  | +$1B | 0.0% | |
56 |  | +$648M | 0.0% | |
57 |  | +$635M | 0.0% | |
58 | 🌐 Greenland | +$553M | 0.0% | |
59 |  | +$236M | 0.0% | |
60 | 🌐 Falkland Isds (Malvinas) | +$191M | 0.0% | |
61 |  | +$182M | 0.0% | |
62 | 🌐 Tokelau | +$147M | 0.0% | |
63 |  | +$138M | 0.0% | |
64 |  | +$89M | 0.0% | |
65 | 🌐 FS Micronesia | +$64M | 0.0% |
Common Questions About Trade Surpluses
Which country has the largest trade surplus?
China has the world's largest trade surplus at +$1.3T (2023). This massive surplus stems from China's role as the global manufacturing hub, exporting electronics, machinery, textiles, and consumer goods worldwide while importing primarily raw materials and energy.
Why does Germany have such a large trade surplus?
Germany's +$245B trade surplus reflects its excellence in high-value manufacturing, particularly automobiles (BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen), industrial machinery, and chemicals. German products command premium prices globally due to their reputation for quality and engineering precision.
Is having a trade surplus always good for a country?
Trade surpluses have both benefits and drawbacks. Benefits include accumulating foreign currency reserves, supporting domestic employment in export industries, and indicating competitive strength. However, large persistent surpluses can lead to currency appreciation pressure, trade tensions with deficit countries, and potential retaliation through tariffs or trade barriers.
How do oil exporters achieve trade surpluses?
Oil-exporting countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia achieve large trade surpluses through energy exports. With global oil demand exceeding domestic consumption, these countries export hundreds of billions in petroleum products while importing relatively fewer manufactured goods, creating substantial trade surpluses.
Which regions dominate global trade surpluses?
Asia dominates global trade surpluses with 52.0% of the total, led by China, Japan, and South Korea's export-oriented economies. Europe contributes 14.0% through Germany, Netherlands, and other manufacturing powerhouses. The Middle East also contributes significantly through oil exports.
Related Rankings & Analysis
Trade Deficit Rankings
Explore countries with the largest trade deficits and their economic impacts.
Top Exporting Countries
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Top Importing Countries
Explore the largest import markets and their consumption patterns.
Explore surplus countries in detail:
📊 Data Source & Methodology
Current Data: 2023 (Latest complete year) from CEPII BACI database, which harmonizes UN Comtrade statistics for accuracy. Trade balance = Exports - Imports.
Note: Values represent merchandise trade only (goods, not services). Service trade balances would modify these rankings. Positive values indicate trade surplus (exports > imports), contributing to current account surpluses and foreign reserve accumulation.