News

China December Trade Surplus Smaller than Forecast
China's trade surplus narrowed to USD 46.79 billion in December 2019 from USD 56.80 billion in the same month a year earlier and below market expectations of USD 48.0 billion, ahead of the signing of the so-called "Phase 1" agreement between Beijing and Washington. Exports jumped 7.6 percent, the first increase in five months, amid strengthening global demand and trade talks with the US. In addition, imports climbed 16.3 percent the most since October 2018, boosted in part by higher commodity prices. China's trade surplus with the US decreased to USD 23.18 billion in December from USD 24.6 billion in November. Considering 2019 full year, the trade surplus widened to USD 424.9 billion from USD 350.9 a year earlier, with exports rising by 0.5 percent and imports falling 2.8 percent. Still, China posted a USD 295.8 billion surplus with the US, down from USD 323.3 billion in 2018, with exports dropping 12.5 percent and imports slipping 20.9 percent.
Published on 2020-01-14

US-China Trade War Enters 3rd Year
In 2020, a slowdown in both the US and China economy is expected as the so-called trade war enters third year. Although the two countries are likely to sign the “phase one” trade deal early January, investors remain cautious as many see it more like a truce, unable to solve main trade issues. Also, with the US presidential election next year, uncertainty and cautiousness should head into 2020 as well.
Published on 2020-01-02

US-China Trade War Enters 3rd Year
In 2020, a slowdown in both the US and China economy is expected as the so-called trade war enters third year. Although the two countries are likely to sign the “phase one” trade deal early January, investors remain cautious as many see it more like a truce, unable to solve main trade issues. The Chinese economy is in the worst shape as the growth has been slowing down since the first round of tariffs was imposed by the US in February 2018. The US economy is still in the very good shape but signs of downshifting are becoming more evident as uncertainty spreads to manufacturers, exporters and companies in general. Also, with the US presidential election next year, uncertainty and cautiousness should head into 2020 as well.
Published on 2020-01-01

China November Trade Surplus Below Estimates
China's trade surplus narrowed to USD 38.73 billion in November 2019 from USD 41.86 billion in the same month a year earlier and below market expectations of USD 46.30 billion. This was the smallest trade surplus since August, as exports unexpectedly declined, while imports surprised forecasts by rising for the first time in seven months. China's trade surplus with the US decreased to USD 24.60 billion in November from USD 26.45 billion in October. The January-November trade surplus widened to USD 377.6 billion from USD 294.1 billion in the same period last year. The trade surplus with the US was recorded at USD 272.5 billion, with exports dropping 12.5 percent and imports slipping 23.3 percent.
Published on 2019-12-08

China Posts Largest Trade Surplus in 3 Months
China's trade surplus widened to USD 42.81 billion in October of 2019 from USD 32.97 billion in the same month a year earlier and above market expectations of a surplus of USD 40.83 billion. This was the largest trade surplus since July, as exports declined 0.9 percent year-on-year to USD 212.93 billion, while imports dropped at a faster 6.4 percent to USD 170.12 billion.
Published on 2019-11-08

China September Trade Surplus Beats Expectations
China's trade surplus widened to USD 39.65 billion in September 2019 from USD 30.26 billion in the same month a year earlier and compared to market expectations of a USD 33.3 billion surplus. Exports declined 3.2 percent over a year earlier while imports dropped at a faster 8.5 percent. Meantime, China's trade surplus with the US narrowed to USD 25.88 billion in September from USD 26.96 billion in August. In the first nine months of the year, the trade surplus with the US was recorded at USD 221.33 billion. Considering the January-September period, the trade surplus increased to USD 298.6 billion from USD 219.2 billion in the corresponding period of the prior year.
Published on 2019-10-14

China Trade Surplus Widens in August
China's trade surplus widened to USD 34.83 billion in August 2019 from USD 26.30 billion in the same month a year earlier and compared to market expectations of a USD 43.0 billion surplus. Exports declined unexpectedly by 1 percent to USD 214.80 billion, while imports fell at a faster 5.6 percent to USD 179.97 billion. China's trade surplus with the US narrowed to USD 26.95 billion in August from USD 27.97 billion in July. In January-August, the trade surplus widened to USD 259.27 billion from USD 189.05 billion in the corresponding period the prior year. In yuan-denominated terms, China's trade surplus came in at CNY 2.40 billion in August, as exports grew 2.6 percent and imports dropped 2.6 percent.
Published on 2019-09-08

China July Trade Surplus Larger than Expected
China's trade surplus soared to USD 45.05 billion in July 2019 from USD 27.49 billion in the same month a year earlier and above market consensus of USD 40 billion, as exports rose unexpectedly, while imports fell less than forecast. In January-July, the country's trade surplus surged to USD 225.67 billion from USD 162.75 billion in the corresponding period the prior year.
Published on 2019-08-08

China Trade Surplus Largest in 6 Months
China's trade surplus widened to USD 50.98 billion in June 2019 from USD 40.91 billion in the same month a year earlier as exports fell 1.3 percent and imports plunged at a faster 7.3 percent. This was the largest trade surplus since December last year and above market consensus of USD 44.65 billion. China's trade surplus with the US rose 11 percent to USD 29.92 billion in June from USD 26.9 billion in May, as imports plunged 31.4 percent and exports fell 7.8 percent. For January-June combined, the country's trade surplus with the US widened 5 percent to USD 140.48 billion from USD 133.76 billion in the same period in 2018.
Published on 2019-07-12

China May Trade Surplus Larger than Expected
China's trade surplus soared to USD 41.66 billion in May 2019 from USD 23.42 billion in the same month a year earlier and easily beating market consensus of a surplus of USD 20.5 billion. This was the largest trade surplus since December last year, as exports rose unexpectedly while imports dropped the most in nearly three years. China's trade surplus with the United States rose to USD 26.89 billion in May, from USD 21.01 billion in April. Considering the first five months of the year, the trade surplus widened to USD 130.47 billion from USD 94.36 billion in the same period last year, with exports rising 0.4 percent from a year earlier and imports declining 3.7 percent.
Published on 2019-06-10

China April Trade Surplus Far Below Estimates
China's trade surplus plunged to USD 13.84 billion in April 2019 from USD 26.21 billion in the same month a year earlier and missing market consensus of a surplus of USD 35.0 billion. Year-on-year, imports advanced by 4.0 percent to USD 179.65 billion, while export fell 2.7 percent to USD 193.49 billion. Considering the first four months of the year, the trade surplus widened to USD 90.16 billion from USD 70.94 billion in the corresponding period 2018. The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, was at USD 21.01 billion in April, little-changed from a surplus USD 20.50 billion in March.
Published on 2019-05-08

China March Trade Surplus Beats Expectations
China's trade balance shifted to a USD 32.64 billion surplus in March 2019 from a USD 5.77 billion deficit in the same month a year earlier and easily beating market estimates of a USD 7.05 billion surplus. Exports soared 14.2 percent year-on-year to USD 198.7 billion, while imports declined by 7.6 percent to USD 166 billion. Considering the first three months of the year, the trade surplus widened sharply to USD 76.3 billion from USD 54.6 billion in the same period the prior year. The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, narrowed to USD 20.5 billion in March from USD 14.72 billion in the previous period. For the January to March period, the trade surplus with the US was at USD 62.66 billion.
Published on 2019-04-12

China Trade Surplus Smallest in 11 Months
China's trade surplus plunged to USD 4.12 billion in February 2019 from USD 32.3 billion in the same month a year earlier, missing market forecasts of USD 26.38 billion. It was the smallest trade surplus since a rare deficit in March 2018, as exports fell the most in three years and imports dropped for a third straight month. The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, narrowed sharply to USD 14.72 billion in February from USD 27.30 billion a month earlier. Considering January-February combined, the trade surplus declined nearly 14 percent from the same period a year ago to USD 43.71 billion, with exports and imports falling 4.6 percent and 3.1 percent respectively.
Published on 2019-03-08

China Trade Surplus Beats Expectations in January
China's trade surplus widened sharply to USD 39.16 billion in January 2019 from USD 18.42 billion in the same month a year earlier and well above market consensus of USD 33.5 billion. Year-on-year, exports increased by 9.1 percent while imports declined by 1.5 percent. The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, narrowed to USD 27.30 billion in January from USD 29.87 billion in December. Exports to the country declined 2.4 percent year-on-year, while imports declined at a faster 41.2 percent.
Published on 2019-02-14

China Posts Largest Trade Surplus Since 2015
China's trade surplus widened to USD 57.06 billion in December 2018 from USD 53.85 billion in the same month a year earlier, above market consensus of a USD 51.53 billion surplus. It was the largest trade surplus since December 2015, as exports fell the most in two years and imports posted the largest drop since July 2016 amid growing disruptions from an escalating trade war with the US and slowing global growth. For full year 2018, China posted a trade surplus of USD 351.76 billion, the lowest since 2013, as exports increased 9.9 percent, its strongest performance in seven years, while imports were up 15.8 percent. The politically-sensitive surplus with the US widened 17.2 percent to USD 323.32 billion last year, the highest on record.
Published on 2019-01-14

China Trade Surplus Largest in 11 Months
China's trade surplus widened to USD 44.74 billion in November of 2018 from USD 38.43 billion in the same month a year earlier and easily beating market consensus of USD 34 billion. It was the largest trade surplus since December 2017, as exports rose at a faster 5.4 percent year-on-year while imports increased by 3.0 percent. The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, widened to a fresh record high of USD 35.55 billion in October from USD 31.78 billion in September.
Published on 2018-12-08

China October Trade Surplus Smaller than Expected
China's trade surplus narrowed to USD 34.01 billion in October of 2018 from USD 36.89 billion in the same month a year earlier and slightly below market consensus of USD 35 billion. Imports jumped 21.4 percent year-on-year to USD 131.83 billion while exports increased at a slower 15.6 percent to USD 159.72 billion. The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, narrowed to USD 31.78 billion in October from a fresh record high of USD 34.13 billion in September. Over the first ten months of the year, the trade surplus came in at USD 258.15 billion.
Published on 2018-11-08

China Trade Surplus Largest in 3 Months
China's trade surplus widened to USD 31.69 bilion in September of 2018 from USD 27.38 billion in the same month a year earlier and easily beating market consensus of USD 19.4 bilion. It was the largest trade surplus since June, as exports increased at a faster 14.5 percent year-on-year to USD 226.5 billion, while imports grew by 14.3 percent to USD 189.49 billion. The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, widened to a fresh record high of USD 34.13 billion in September from USD 31.05 billion in August. Over the first nine months of the year, the trade surplus fell to USD 225.7 billion from USD 303.43 billion in the same period 2017. The nine-month period trade surplus with the US was reported at USD 225.79 billion, up 15 percent from the same period of the previous year.
Published on 2018-10-12

China August Trade Surplus Smaller than Expected
China's trade surplus narrowed sharply to USD 27.91 bilion in August 2018 from USD 40.05 billion in the same month a year earlier and below market consensus of USD 39.33 bilion. Imports jumped 20 percent to a record high while exports rose at a softer 9.8 percent. The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, widened to a fresh record high of USD 31.05 billion in August from USD 28.09 billion in July. Over the first eight months of the year, the trade surplus decreased to USD 194.01 billion from USD 263.00 billion in the same period 2017.
Published on 2018-09-08

China July Trade Surplus Smaller than Expected
China's trade surplus narrowed sharply to USD 28.05 bilion in July 2018 from USD 44.85 billion in the same month a year earlier and far below market consensus of USD 39.33 bilion. Imports jumped 27.3 percent to a near record high while exports rose at a softer 12.2 percent. The trade surplus with the US, China's largest export market, narrowed slightly to USD 28.09 billion in July from June's record of USD 28.93 billion in June.
Published on 2018-08-08