China has released a new trade index gauging economic exchanges with fellow BRICS members, signaling deepening cooperation and stronger investment momentum. The announcement was made at the 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Tuesday.
The China-BRICS Trade Index, compiled by the General Administration of Customs (GAC), uses 2009—the year BRICS leaders held their first meeting—as its baseline of 100 points. By 2024, the index climbed to 301.51 points, reflecting major progress in both scale and quality of trade.
According to the GAC, the index is based on four indicators: trade scale, trade structure, trade innovation, and trade potential. All demonstrated robust growth, with trade potential alone rising to 387.21 points, underscoring the vitality of exchanges between China and other BRICS economies.
Cai Junwei, an official with the GAC, emphasized the broader implications:
“The compilation and regular release of this index will comprehensively reflect trade development between China and other BRICS members, demonstrate the fruitful outcomes of economic and trade cooperation, and further promote such exchanges.”
Outward Investment Index Launched
China also introduced its first-ever China Outward Direct Investment Index, designed to measure the activity and patterns of Chinese companies expanding abroad. The index recorded a reading of 142 in the first half of 2024, indicating highly active investment levels.
Vice-Minister of Commerce Ling Ji called the launch a turning point for global engagement: “Authoritative information releases not only showcase China’s achievements, but also serve enterprises, financial institutions and think tanks by offering timely data and guidance.”
The index, jointly issued by seven major industry chambers, covers companies in 190 countries and regions. It includes a composite index, a willingness index, and an actual investment index—all showing strong momentum.
Despite global uncertainties, Chinese outbound investment grew steadily. In 2024, outward FDI flows reached $192.2 billion, an 8.4 percent increase year-on-year, keeping China among the world’s top three global investors for the 13th straight year.
Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, noted that the data offers strategic advantages:
“It provides businesses valuable references to seize international opportunities while reducing risks. It will also help inform policy adjustments to better support China’s international economic engagement.”
The twin indices highlight both the resilience of China’s trade with BRICS partners and the country’s growing global investment footprint, reinforcing its role as a central player in reshaping global economic governance.
