Boeing shares fall after Trump announces smaller-than-expected China jet deal

Shares in Boeing fell more than 4% after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that China had agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, disappointing investors who had expected a much larger order.

According to Reuters, discussions ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping had centred on a potential package of around 500 Boeing 737 MAX jets, possibly followed by additional widebody aircraft orders. No details were released on the aircraft types or delivery timeline for the newly announced agreement.

The order would still represent China’s largest Boeing purchase since 2017, when Beijing agreed to buy 300 aircraft during Trump’s previous presidency. Relations between the two countries later deteriorated, and Chinese airlines have placed very few Boeing orders since then.

The announcement highlights the ongoing competition between Boeing and Airbus in the Chinese market. Airbus has steadily expanded its position in China since 2018, including through its A320 assembly facility in Tianjin, while Boeing’s market share has weakened amid geopolitical tensions and the grounding of the 737 MAX.

Analysts noted that Chinese aircraft orders are often closely tied to diplomatic negotiations and may not immediately translate into firm delivery commitments. Despite the market’s initial disappointment, industry forecasts still point to major long-term demand growth in China, with both Boeing and Airbus projecting the need for roughly 9,000 new aircraft in the country by 2045.