Overview
- China’s customs agency, which reported the April figures Saturday, said exports rose 14.1% and imports 25.3% from a year earlier, beating economist forecasts.
- Economists credit demand for semiconductors, autos, and AI-related hardware for the snapback, a lift that helps Beijing pursue its 4.5% to 5% growth goal for 2026.
- Shipments to the United States grew 11.3% in April from a year earlier, yet January–April exports to the US fell 10.2% and imports from the US fell 10.9%, leaving a $87.7 billion bilateral surplus so far this year.
- The war in the Middle East has pushed up oil prices and slowed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, raising factory and shipping costs that could cool future orders and squeeze margins for Chinese producers.
- President Donald Trump meets Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14–15, with tariffs, export controls and technology access on the agenda, and most analysts expecting only incremental steps rather than a sweeping deal.