For years, the direct route from China to the United States was the unchallenged backbone of global trade. But as we move through early 2026, real-time shipping data confirms a historic shift: that backbone is being replaced by a sprawling network of "New Buyers" across the Global South.

The evidence isn't found in annual forecasts, but in the physical movement of containers. While direct volumes to the U.S. in 2025 fell by 20%, China’s export engine accelerated elsewhere, pushing its global trade surplus toward new heights.

Establishing the New Baseline

This is not a temporary rerouting or a short-term workaround. Vizion’s weekly flow data shows that the global trade floor has been structurally reset. As Vizion CEO Kyle Henderson explains:

“When you step back from year-over-year noise and look at weekly flows, what’s striking is how persistent the shift has been since late 2025. China’s export volumes have established a higher baseline across Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, and those levels have held into 2026. That pattern points to new buyers and more durable sourcing relationships forming across Southeast Asia, rather than a temporary rerouting.”

The Week 5 Milestone: Identifying the Hubs

Our data for Week 5 of 2026 highlights an extraordinary acceleration of volume into key regional hubs compared to the same period in 2025. These destinations have evolved into primary buyers of Chinese machinery and intermediate goods.

Indonesia: The Exponential Consumer Indonesia has emerged as a powerhouse for Chinese imports, largely driven by industrialization and the global green-energy transition.

1. The YOY Surge: Week 5 2026 volume hit 19,989 units, a staggering jump from just 1,302 units in Week 5 of 2025.
2. The 2026 Momentum: This surge represents a continuation of the "new cycle of growth" established in late 2025 as China-ASEAN trade surpassed $1 trillion.

Thailand: Infrastructure and Capital Goods Thailand remains a massive buyer of cost-effective Chinese capital goods and materials to fuel its domestic infrastructure growth.

1. The YOY Surge: Week 5 2026 volume reached 15,641 units, nearly 12 times the volume recorded in the same week of 2025 (1,335 units).
2. The 2026 Momentum: Thailand’s trade deficit with China has widened significantly, cementing its status as a top-tier "new buyer" for 2026.

Malaysia: The Industrial Connector Malaysia’s role as a regional hub for electronics and machinery is propped up by a constant flow of Chinese components and tooling.

1. The YOY Surge: Week 5 2026 volume reached 14,359 units, a massive increase from the 831 units recorded in Week 5 of 2025.
2. The 2026 Momentum: The established higher baseline from late 2025 has held firm into 2026, signaling a durable industrial link.

Vietnam: The Entrenched Leader Vietnam remains the top buyer in the ASEAN region, serving as both a consumer market and a critical node for final assembly.

1. The YOY Surge: Week 5 2026 volume hit 12,079 units, up from just 999 units in Week 5 of 2025.
2. The 2026 Momentum: Vietnam’s trade volume shrugged off global turmoil in late 2025, rising nearly 18% as its position as a rising export power was cemented heading into the new year.

The Lunar New Year Factor

It is critical to view these Week 5 surges through the lens of the 2026 Lunar New Year, which begins on February 17. This period typically triggers a "pre-holiday rush" as shippers scramble to move goods before the massive shutdowns begin around February 15. However, the 2026 data shows a significant divergence. While the traditional rush to the U.S. has been unusually weak—trending toward its lowest pre-holiday volume in nearly four years—the surge to Southeast Asian buyers has reached record levels. This suggests that the "New Buyers" in the ASEAN region are now the primary drivers of China's seasonal and structural momentum.

Conclusion: A Strategic Re-Anchoring

The data from early 2026 confirms that the global supply chain has moved beyond the "China + 1" hedging phase and into a state of structural integration within the Global South. While U.S. demand appears more cautious due to tariff uncertainty, China's total global outbound volume in early 2026 has consistently outperformed historical norms.

For shippers and logistics providers, the lesson of 2026 is clear: the most durable growth is no longer found on the traditional East-West corridors. The future of trade is being written in the integrated manufacturing webs connecting China to the emerging markets of Asia.