Overview
- Chinese customs reported April exports up 14.1% and imports up 25.3%, topping economists’ forecasts.
- The pickup followed March’s 2.5% export rise, pointing to a marked turnaround in overseas demand.
- China’s trade surplus widened to $84.8 billion as buyers stocked up on components because the Iran war threatens higher input costs.
- President Donald Trump is set to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing next week with trade and tech controls on the table, and HSBC expects only incremental fixes.
- Economists say sales of semiconductors and autos are lifting exports, though rising fuel and shipping costs could squeeze factories and cool foreign orders.