Amid expectations of a major market contraction, global auction sales of Chinese art and antiques generated $5.7 billion in sales in 2020, a decrease of only 0.5% year-over-year. As the first country to be affected by the health crisis, mainland China’s rapid and aggressive recovery from the pandemic garnered $4.4 billion in total auction sales, an impressive 15% increase from 2019. Outside of mainland China, however, the market for Chinese art and antiques shrunk by almost a third.

At its peak, total auction sales of Chinese art and antiques accounted for 50% of the global art auction sales. However, influenced by the slowdown in China’s economic growth and the shifting geopolitical landscape, this market share has declined to 38% in 2020.

This report has been compiled by analysts at Artnet, with data on mainland China vetted and provided by the CAA.

Global auction sales of Chinese art and antiques totaled $5.7 billion in 2019, a decrease of 10% year-over-year and the lowest level for the genre since 2010. Amidst continued trade tension with the United States, and a declining Chinese GDP growth rate, the value of total auction sales in mainland China declined by 10% in 2019 to $3.7 billion, the lowest since 2010. Overseas, the market for Chinese art and antiques also experienced a 9% contraction year-over-year.

At its peak, total auction sales of Chinese art and antiques accounted for 50% of the global art auction sales. However, influenced by the slowdown in China’s economic growth and the shifting geopolitical landscape, this market share declined to just 30% in 2019.

This report has been compiled by analysts at Artnet, with data on mainland China vetted and provided by the CAA.

Amidst economic uncertainties and ongoing US-China trade talks, the total auction sales value in mainland China declined by 17% in 2018, totaling $4.2 billion, the lowest level since 2010. Global auction sales of Chinese art and antiques totaled $6.4 billion in 2018, decreasing by 10% year-over-year. North America also saw a 36% decline in the total sales value of Chinese art and antiques year-over-year.
At its peak, total auction sales of Chinese art and antiques accounted for 50% of the global art auction sales. However, influenced by the slowdown in China’s economic growth and the shifting geopolitical landscape, this market share declined to just 31% in 2018.

This report has been compiled by analysts at Artnet, with data on mainland China vetted and provided by the CAA.

Amid expectations of a stronger market rebound, global auction sales of Chinese art and antiques totaled $7.1 billion in 2017, increasing 7% year-over-year. The ultra-high-end market saw a record volume of sales, marshalled by a burgeoning private museum sector in China. The middle and lower end of the market, however, which covered 99% of overall transactions, continued to show a downturn from 2015. While the market increasingly turns towards high-end art and antiques, payment defaults and delays remain an ongoing issue in mainland China.

This report has been compiled by analysts at Artnet, with data on mainland China vetted and provided by the CAA.

In 2016, auction sales of Chinese art and antiques totaled $6.7 billion (¥46.6 billion) worldwide, representing more than one third of the global art auction market. After five years of fluctuation, mainland China’s art market began to show signs of maturity, as the market improved in the quality of artworks offered rather than quantity. The sales of Chinese art and antiques overseas, however, saw its first significant decline since 2012, mirroring the market’s overall slowdown abroad. Mainland China regained its global lead in total sales value, while the Western market experienced a contraction.

This report has been compiled by analysts at Artnet, with data on mainland China vetted and provided by the CAA.

Over the past 10 years, the Chinese art market has seen both tremendous growth and volatility as it grew to majorly impact the global art auction market. The total sales value in mainland China continued its recent decline in 2015, reaching under its 2012 low. In contrary to the mainland market, the overseas sales of Chinese art has more than quadrupled since 2009, with an unexpectedly strong growth in 2015 even as the mainland China market went through a cooling period. Together, sales of Chinese art accounted for almost a third of the global art auction market in 2015.

This report has been compiled by analysts at Artnet. Data on mainland China was vetted and provided by the CAA.

The Chinese art and antiques market has been through a period of volatile sales. Prior to 2011, growth in the auction sector seemed unstoppable. However, the following three years have been marked by a much more moderate climate. While recovery began in 2013 amidst hopes that the Chinese art market had entered a new phase of maturity, 2014 proved to be another difficult year, as sell-through rates dropped to the lowest in five years and non-payment rate soared.

This report has been compiled by analysts at Artnet. Data on mainland China was vetted and provided by the CAA.

After experiencing exceptional growth between 2008 and 2011, the Chinese art and antiques auction market cooled over 2012. Recovery began in 2013, as China retained its global position, with growing sales in all sectors, more caution from buyers, and more moderate prices at auction, signaling a new phase of maturity in the Chinese art market.

This report has been compiled by analysts at Artnet. Data on mainland China was vetted and provided by the CAA.

In 2011, China became the world’s largest auction market for art and antiques for the first time, surpassing both the United States and European markets. A year later, the United States regained its position as the largest art market, while the Chinese market rapidly lost market share. The slowdown in mainland China was the result of many different economic factors. The high end of the market, in particular, was severely impacted. Reverberations from this deceleration were also felt at auctions overseas, as houses selling Chinese art and antiques struggled to maintain 2011 market levels.

This report has been compiled by analysts at Artnet. Data on mainland China was vetted and provided by the CAA.