Guyana’s exports to China hit record US$501M – Phillips

Sep 20, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Guyana’s exports to China hit US$501 million in 2025, the country’s strongest trade performance with the Asian nation to date, Prime Minister Mark Phillips said Thursday night.

Phillips made the disclosure as he highlighted the growing economic relationship between Guyana and China at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy at the Marriott Hotel to mark the 77th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The Prime Minister said two-way trade between the two countries reached approximately US$1.8 billion last year, describing the export performance as Guyana’s strongest trade performance with China to date. “Trade has become an increasingly crucial pillar of the partnership that exists between Guyana and China,” Phillips said.

He noted that China also remains among Guyana’s leading sources of imports and said the continued diversification of Guyana’s economy provides scope for the two countries to expand their trading relationship in the coming years.

Phillips’ remarks came against the backdrop of rapidly expanding bilateral economic ties. Official Guyanese trade data tracks merchandise imports and exports through customs declarations, while recent reporting based on the Bureau of Statistics put Guyana’s 2025 imports from China at about US$1.287 billion.

The Prime Minister said the growth in trade was part of a broader relationship that had moved beyond diplomacy into practical cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, education, transportation and human-resource development. He pointed to the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation International, as a major example of that cooperation.

According to Phillips, the bridge has strengthened connectivity between Regions Three and Four and is supporting the networks of an expanding Guyanese economy. Healthcare, he said, provides another important example, citing the Guyana Six Regional Hospitals Project, through which Chinese enterprises have supported the development of modern healthcare facilities across the regions.

“I would be amiss if I did not acknowledge and express gratitude for the Chinese medical teams that have served our Guyanese people over the years,” Phillips said. He also pointed to the recently established Guyana-China Friendship Park as another visible symbol of the relationship, while highlighting scholarships and training opportunities for Guyanese students and professionals in China.

Beyond oil

Phillips said Guyana is now at a pivotal point in its national development, with the exploitation of its oil and gas resources creating “unprecedented opportunities.” However, he stressed that the country’s ambitions extend beyond hydrocarbons. “We are determined to use this period of opportunity to diversify our economy, strengthen food and energy security, modernize our infrastructure, develop our human capital, and pursue a low-development pathway that is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient to climate change,” he said.

It is against that backdrop, Phillips said, that Guyana sees “enormous possibilities” for the next chapter of its relationship with China. He identified sustainable urban development, agriculture and the maritime sector as areas where cooperation could be expanded.

Phillips said China’s experience in renewable energy, smart infrastructure, modern transportation and urban planning could complement Guyana’s efforts to build cleaner, more efficient, connected and climate-resilient communities. Agriculture, he added, offers significant potential for collaboration, given Guyana’s land, water and agricultural tradition and China’s expertise in agricultural science, mechanisation, irrigation, food processing and agricultural technology.

He also identified fisheries, aquaculture, marine science, environmental protection and sustainable ocean development as areas for deeper cooperation. “By deepening our cooperation in these areas, we can improve productivity, strengthen food security, expand value-added production, and develop solutions suited to the realities of a changing climate,” Phillips said.

A relationship spanning decades

Phillips also used the occasion to reflect on the historical ties between the two countries. He noted that the first Chinese immigrants arrived in Guyana in 1853, with the Chinese community subsequently making significant contributions to Guyana’s social and cultural development. Guyana supported the restoration of the People’s Republic of China’s lawful seat at the United Nations in 1971, and in 1972 became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with China.

This year marks the 54th anniversary of those diplomatic relations, while Guyana is celebrating 60 years of independence. Phillips said the relationship has remained grounded in mutual respect, solidarity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. He said Guyana and China have also maintained close communication within the United Nations, World Trade Organization, the Group of 77 and China, and other international organisations.

As China celebrates its 77th anniversary, Phillips said Guyana is looking forward to working with Beijing to build a future that is “more prosperous, more resilient, more sustainable, and more inclusive.” “We have travelled a remarkable journey together,” the Prime Minister said, adding that while the two countries could take pride in their achievements, “our greatest opportunities may still lie ahead.”

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• Chinese Embassy, Guyana’s exports, Mark Phillips, Marriott hotel

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