Chinese Exporters Ditch the Dollar—Yuan Trade Surge Signals a Power Shift

DBS reports a seismic shift in global trade finance: Chinese exporters are abandoning the dollar en masse for yuan-denominated transactions. Here’s why it matters—and why Wall Street’s sweating.

The Dollar’s Diminishing Dominance

Exporters are cutting ties with the greenback, opting for yuan settlements to sidestep currency volatility and U.S. sanctions. A quiet rebellion against dollar hegemony—or just smart business?

Yuan’s Ascent: Not Just a Blip

This isn’t petty cash—China’s cross-border yuan usage hit record highs in Q2 2025, with trade partners from Brazil to Bahrain jumping onboard. The dollar’s exorbitant privilege? Looking a little less exorbitant.

The Cynical Take

Of course Beijing’s cheering this on—nothing boosts currency internationalization like forcing your own exporters to use it. Meanwhile, Treasury secretaries weep into their $20 bills.

DBS: Yuan Is Trending, Dollar Is Losing Grip

DBS, one of Southeast Asia’s largest lenders, has issued a startling report on USD. The report outlines how Chinese market exports have lately been dealing mainly in Chinese Yuan, shunning the US dollar from all sides and corners. DBS shared how the demand for the Chinese Yuan has been rapidly rising, with exporters refusing to accept the US dollar while settling trades holistically.

. S. “” Said Han Kwee Juan, speaking to Reuters in his first media interview since becoming DBS’s group head of institutional banking in January.

Juan predicted how the growing trend favoring the Chinese Yuan may continue to rise amid chaotic dollar policies.

Yuan Is Winning Right Now: Here’s How

Nearly 30% of China’s cross-border interbank payment system transactions have been conducted in yuan, DBS lately reported.

As stated by Finimize regarding DBS yuan demand.

Moreover, the Yuan transaction boost has been noted primarily in Chinese exporter deals made with LATAM nations. This MOVE is suggestive of changing financial orders, ordeals that encroach upon the idea of how the US dollar as the global reserve asset is losing its grip over its competitors.