China’s export growth steady in May

BEIJING: China maintained solid export growth of 12.6% in May, slightly slower than in April, but still providing good news for Beijing’s policymakers as they deal with tough trade negotiations with Washington.

Imports also rose more than anticipated in May and at the fastest pace since January, with the data coming at a time when China has pledged to its trade partners – including the US – that steps would be taken to increase imports.

China, the world’s largest exporter, has so far escaped any major blow to its foreign trade sector despite rising trade tensions with the United States, which last week warned it would continue to pursue tariffs on Chinese imports.

That bodes well for the world’s second-largest economy, as policymakers tighten access to credit domestically to prevent asset bubbles and limit heavy industry in many regions as part of a big effort to clean up severe air, water and soil pollution. “Trade performance in Q2 so far has been better than expected and may offer some upside to Q2 GDP growth,” Betty Wang, senior China Economist at ANZ, wrote in a note.

But trade tensions with the US remain a risk.

A third round of talks between the two economic heavyweights concluded in Beijing last weekend with few signs of progress, as China issued a counter-warning that any trade and business deals reached with Washington would be void if the United States implemented tariffs.

The median forecast from a Reuters survey of 32 analysts had pointed to 10% export growth in May, but the actual outturn showed little loss of momentum, coming in just a shade below the 12.7% growth posted in April.

Imports grew 26%in May, the General Administration of Customs said, beating analysts’ forecast of 18.7% growth, and compared with a 21.5% rebound in April.

Strong growth in imports were driven by purchases of computer chips as well as commodities including agricultural crude oil, copper ore and concentrate and natural gas.

China is reported to be importing record volumes of US oil and is likely to buy more US soy after Beijing signalled to state-run refiners and grains purchasers they should buy more to help ease trade tensions.

Among major trading partners, China’s imports from Australia saw biggest turnaround in growth in May, rising 22.4% year-on-year after falling 3.1% in April. Imports from South Korea rose 31.8% in May.

China’s imports and exports both showed stronger growth over the first five months of the year than they did during the same period a year ago, customs data shows.

China’ trade surplus narrowed to US$24.92bil in May from US$28.38bil in April, and came in well below analysts forecasts for a US$31.9bil surplus.

Still a widening in China’s surplus with the United States is likely to further irritate Washington.

China’s exports to the US rose 11.6% in May from a year earlier, compared with a 9.7% rise in April. Its imports from the US rose 11.4% in May, far slower than the 20.3% growth shown in April. — Reuters