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.
Net energy embedded in traded goods in China, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | -1,118 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | -1,305 terawatt-hours | +16.8% |
| 1997 | -1,321 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 1998 | -1,424 terawatt-hours | +7.8% |
| 1999 | -983.15 terawatt-hours | -30.9% |
| 2000 | -1,230 terawatt-hours | +25.1% |
| 2001 | -935.63 terawatt-hours | -23.9% |
| 2002 | -1,216 terawatt-hours | +30.0% |
| 2003 | -1,599 terawatt-hours | +31.5% |
| 2004 | -2,110 terawatt-hours | +32.0% |
| 2005 | -3,301 terawatt-hours | +56.4% |
| 2006 | -4,307 terawatt-hours | +30.5% |
| 2007 | -4,766 terawatt-hours | +10.7% |
| 2008 | -4,241 terawatt-hours | -11.0% |
| 2009 | -3,001 terawatt-hours | -29.2% |
| 2010 | -3,269 terawatt-hours | +8.9% |
| 2011 | -3,470 terawatt-hours | +6.2% |
| 2012 | -3,387 terawatt-hours | -2.4% |
| 2013 | -3,143 terawatt-hours | -7.2% |
| 2014 | -3,161 terawatt-hours | +0.6% |
| 2015 | -2,732 terawatt-hours | -13.6% |
| 2016 | -1,665 terawatt-hours | -39.1% |
| 2017 | -1,400 terawatt-hours | -15.9% |
| 2018 | -1,761 terawatt-hours | +25.7% |
| 2019 | -1,586 terawatt-hours | -9.9% |
| 2020 | -2,221 terawatt-hours | +40.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's -2,221 terawatt-hours is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -65.4 terawatt-hours, 34.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
- China's -2,221 terawatt-hours is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -208.05 terawatt-hours, 10.7× the median. (6 countries reporting)
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
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 20.4% (2024)
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
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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.