BEIJING — China’s exports topped forecasts in November, driven by a surge in shipments to non-US markets as manufacturers deepen trade ties with the rest of the world in light of US President Donald J. Trump’s prohibitively high tariffs.
Outbound shipments from the world’s second-biggest economy grew 5.9% year on year, customs data showed on Monday, reversing from a 1.1% contraction a month prior, and beating a 3.8% forecast in a Reuters poll.
Imports were up 1.9%, compared to a 1% uptick in October. Economists had expected a 3% increase.
“There’s no improvement in China’s direct exports to the US. Exports to the European Union, Africa and Latin America outperformed instead,” said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Chinese shipments to the US dropped 29% in November year on year, the data shows, even though the month began with news that the United States and China had agreed to scale back some of their tariffs and a raft of other measures after Mr. Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in South Korea on Oct. 30.
Economists estimate that diminished access to the US market has reduced China’s export growth by roughly 2 percentage points, equivalent to around 0.3% of gross domestic product.
October’s unexpected downturn, following an 8.3% surge the month prior, signaled that Chinese exporters’ tactic of front-loading US-bound shipments to beat Mr. Trump’s tariffs had run its course.
Although Chinese factory owners reported an improvement in new export orders in November, they were still in contraction, underscoring continued uncertainty for manufacturers as they struggle to replace demand in the absence of US buyers.
An official survey tracking broader factory activity showed that the sector contracted for an eighth consecutive month.
China’s trade surplus stood at $111.68 billion in November, from $90.07 billion recorded the previous month, and beating a forecast of $100.2 billion. — Reuters
