Net energy embedded in traded goods in China
China: Net energy embedded in traded goods was -2,221 terawatt-hours in 2020. ▼ Falling
Net energy embedded in traded goods in China, 1995–2020
Source: Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
China recorded -2,221 terawatt-hours for net energy embedded in traded goods in 2020.
The figure is down 40.0% on the previous year and up 32.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net energy embedded in traded goods in China peaked at -935.63 terawatt-hours in 2001 and was at its lowest, -4,766 terawatt-hours, in 2007.
That places China 42nd out of 43 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -1,230 terawatt-hours | -1,424 terawatt-hours | -983.15 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 2000s | -2,671 terawatt-hours | -4,766 terawatt-hours | -935.63 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | -2,558 terawatt-hours | -3,470 terawatt-hours | -1,400 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | -2,221 terawatt-hours | -2,221 terawatt-hours | -2,221 terawatt-hours | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 39 South Korea -339.83 terawatt-hours compare
- 40 Canada -399.99 terawatt-hours compare
- 41 South Africa -574.2 terawatt-hours compare
- 43 Russia -2,438 terawatt-hours compare
More energy & mining data for China
- Fuel imports 20.4% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 15.1% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 1.5% (2024)
- Gas production 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 1.5% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 3.4% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 59.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net energy embedded in traded goods in China?
- Net energy embedded in traded goods in China was -2,221 terawatt-hours in 2020, according to Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net energy embedded in traded goods recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was -935.63 terawatt-hours in 2001.
- What is the lowest net energy embedded in traded goods recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -4,766 terawatt-hours in 2007.
- How does China rank for net energy embedded in traded goods?
- China ranks 42nd out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
- Is net energy embedded in traded goods rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Net energy embedded in traded goods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Net energy embedded in traded goods is the difference in energy embedded in exported goods, and imported goods. A positive value means that a country is a net importer; a negative means it's a net exporter. Measured in terawatt-hours.