By Shaqueila Morris

Chinese cars are all over Jamaica’s roads. And of course, Jamaicans love shopping on Shein and Temu.  So, could China eventually overtake America as our biggest supplier?

We spend a lot of time talking about Caribbean trade with the United States. But Jamaica’s numbers show just how quickly China is gaining ground.

According to STATIN figures reported by the Jamaica Observer, Jamaica bought over US$870 million in goods from China in 2025. That’s almost double what we bought from China in 2021. China is now our second-largest source of imported goods right behind the United States.

So, how soon could it become number one?

Well, there’s still a pretty big gap. Jamaica imported US$2.8 billion from America last year. That’s more than three times the amount we imported from China.

However, I must say, these numbers alone can’t tell us when, or even if, China will actually overtake America. But the shift is definitely about more than just Chinese cars and online shopping. Machinery, transport equipment, and a category that includes building materials made up more than three-quarters of our imports from China.

And according to the PIOJ, investment in construction, tourism, renewable energy and infrastructure is helping to drive this increase.

So China isn’t just supplying more of what Jamaicans buy for themselves. It’s also supplying more of what we’re using to build businesses and develop the country. And that means any conversation about Jamaica’s economic future now has to give China a much bigger seat at the table.

And that’s what’s new!

Do you think China will eventually replace America as Jamaica’s biggest supplier?