Key Points
● May exports totaled US$728 million, down 10.25% year on year.
● January-May exports reached US$4.018 billion, down 0.86%.
● Exports declined year on year in both April and May, while May exports rose about 5.1% from April.
2Firsts
June 29, 2026
According to China Customs export data analyzed by 2Firsts, China’s vape-related exports totaled US$728 million in May 2026, down 10.25% from a year earlier and marking the second consecutive month of year-on-year decline. Exports for January through May reached US$4.018 billion, down 0.86% from the same period in 2025, leaving cumulative shipments broadly in line with last year’s level.
May exports increased from US$693 million in April to US$728 million, representing a month-on-month increase of about 5.1%. Despite the recovery, export value remained below the US$812 million recorded in May 2025.
Monthly exports have fluctuated throughout the year. Shipments declined 6.17% year on year in January, increased 51.26% in February and 4.48% in March, before falling 20.97% in April and 10.25% in May, marking two consecutive months of year-on-year contraction.
For the first five months of 2026, cumulative exports totaled US$4.018 billion, approximately US$35 million lower than a year earlier. Although second-quarter monthly exports have softened, the cumulative decline remained below 1%, indicating that overall export performance has remained relatively stable.
Historical customs data show that export values were generally stronger in the second half of 2025 than in the first half. With only January-May data currently available for 2026, the full-year export trend will become clearer as additional monthly data are released.
Follow 2Firsts for ongoing tracking of China Customs vape export data, global market developments and product structure trends.
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