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China Trade Surplus Largest in 5 Months
China's trade surplus was at USD 51.53 billion in June 2021, far above market consensus of USD 44.2 billion and compared with a surplus of USD 44.8 billion in the same month a year earlier. It was the largest trade surplus since January, amid further recovery in global demand and high commodity prices. Exports soared 32.2 percent from a year earlier to USD 281.42 billion while imports jumped 36.7 percent to 229.89 billion. The country's trade surplus with the US increased to USD 32.58 billion in June from USD 31.78 billion in May. Considering the first half of the year, the trade surplus widened sharply to USD 251.52 billion, from USD 164.33 billion in the same period of 2020, as exports surged 38.6 percent year-on-year to USD 1.52 trillion, while imports jumped 36 percent to USD 1.27 trillion. The trade surplus with the US widened to USD 164.92 billion.
Published on 2021-07-13

China Trade Surplus Smaller than Expected
China's trade surplus was at USD 45.5 billion in May 2021, below market consensus of USD 50.5 billion and compared with a surplus of USD 61.9 billion in the same month a year earlier, amid strengthening yuan, a further recovery global demand and higher commodity prices. Exports jumped 27.9 percent while imports soared at a faster 51.1 percent. The country's trade surplus with the US increased to USD 31.78 billion in May from USD 28.11 billion in April. For the first five months of the year, China’s trade surplus with the US widened to USD 132.46 billion from USD 100.68 billion in January – April. Considering the first five months of the year, the trade surplus widened sharply to USD 203.45 billion, from USD 119.54 billion in the same period of 2020, as exports jumped 40.2 percent year-on-year to USD 1.24 trillion, while imports soared 35.6 percent to USD 1.03 trillion.
Published on 2021-06-07

China Trade Surplus Larger than Estimated
China's trade surplus was at USD 42.8 billion in April 2021, easily beating market consensus of USD 28.1 billion and compared with a surplus of USD 45.0 billion in the same month a year earlier, amid an improving global demand and higher commodity prices. Exports jumped 32.3 percent and imports soared 43.1 percent. The country's trade surplus with the US increased to USD 28.11 billion in April from USD 21.37 billion in March. Considering the first four months of the year, the trade surplus widened sharply to USD 157.91 billion, from USD 55.65 billion in the same period of 2020, as exports jumped 44 percent year-on-year to USD 973.7 billion, while imports soared 31.9 percent to USD 815.79 billion.
Published on 2021-05-07

China Trade Surplus Smaller than Forecast
China's trade surplus narrowed to USD 13.8 billion in March 2021, from USD 20.0 billion in the same month of the previous year and far below market expectations of USD 52.05 billion, amid an improving global demand and higher commodity prices. Exports soared 30.6 percent and imports jumped 38.1 percent to an all-time high, at the fastest pace since February 2017. The country's trade surplus with the US declined to USD 21.37 billion in March from USD 23.01 billion in February. Considering the first three months of the year, the trade surplus widened sharply to USD 117.1 billion, from USD 12.8 billion in the same period of 2020, as exports and imports soared from last year's record slumps.
Published on 2021-04-13

China Trade Surplus Larger than Expected
China reported a trade surplus of USD 103.25 billion in January-February 2021 combined, rebounding sharply from a USD 7.21 billion deficit in the same period a year earlier, and easily beating market consensus of a USD 60 billion surplus, as the economy recovered from the disruption caused by COVID-19, with more factories resuming their production. Exports surged 60.6 percent year-on-year, the eighth straight month of increase; while imports rose at a softer 22.2 percent, the fifth consecutive month of growth. China's trade surplus with the US for the first two months of the year stood at USD 51.26 billion, much larger than a surplus of USD 25.37 billion in the corresponding period a year earlier. To smooth distortions due to the Lunar New Year festival, Chinese customs combine January and February trade data.
Published on 2021-03-07

China Trade Surplus Hits New Record High
China's trade surplus jumped to a fresh record high of USD 78.17 billion in December 2020 from USD 47.25 billion in the same month a year earlier, beating market expectations of a USD 72.35 billion. Exports soared 18 percent year-on-year, the seventh straight month of increase; while imports rose at a softer 6.5 percent, the fourth consecutive month of growth, amid improving global demand. The country's trade surplus with the US narrowed to USD 29.92 billion in December from USD 37.42 billion in November. For 2000 full year, the trade surplus was USD 535.03 billion, the largest since 2015, as exports rose 3.6 percent, while imports fell 1.1 percent. Exports to the US increased 7.9 percent to USD 451.8 billion, while imports from the US were up 9.8 percent to USD 134.9 billion, bringing a trade surplus of USD 316.9 billion.
Published on 2021-01-14

China Posts Largest Trade Surplus on Record
China's trade surplus widened to USD 75.42 billion in November 2020 from USD 37.18 billion in the same month the previous year, and far above market expectations of USD 53.5 billion. This was the largest trade surplus since at least 1981, as exports jumped to an all-time high amid improving global demand. The country's trade surplus with the US widened to USD 37.42 billion in November from USD 31.37 billion in October. Considering the first eleven months of the year, the trade surplus was USD 459.92 billion, as exports rose 2.5 percent and imports fell 1.6 percent.
Published on 2020-12-07

China October Trade Surplus Larger than Expected
China's trade surplus surged to USD 58.44 billion in October 2020 from USD 42.3 billion in the same month the previous year, and far above market expectations of USD 46 billion. Exports jumped by 11.4 percent while imports rose at a softer 4.7 percent. The country's trade surplus with the US widened to USD 31.37 billion in October from USD 30.75 billion in September. Considering the first ten months of the year, the trade surplus was USD 384.5 billion, as exports were up 0.5 percent from a year earlier to USD 2.05 trillion, while imports dropped 2.3 percent to USD 1.66 trillion.
Published on 2020-11-07

China Trade Surplus Smaller than Forecast
China's trade surplus narrowed to USD 37.0 billion in September 2020 from USD 39.1 billion in the same month the previous year, the smallest since March and far below market expectations of USD 58 billion. Both exports and imports hit all-time highs as the global demand continued to recover from the pandemic shock. The country's trade surplus with the US narrowed to USD 30.75 billion in September from USD 34.24 billion in August. For the first nine months of the year, China’s trade surplus with the US totaled USD 218.57 billion.
Published on 2020-10-13

China Trade Surplus Larger than Expected
China's trade surplus widened sharply to USD 58.93 billion in August 2020 from USD 34.72 billion in the same month the previous year and far above market expectations of USD 50.5 billion. Exports rose by 9.5 percent, the fastest pace since March last year, while imports unexpectedly fell by 2.1 percent. The country's trade surplus with the United States widened to USD 34.24 billion in August from USD 32.46 billion in July.
Published on 2020-09-07

China Trade Surplus Larger than Expected
China's trade surplus widened sharply to USD 62.33 billion in July 2020 from USD 44.02 billion in the same month the previous year and far above market expectations of USD 42.0 billion. Exports rose by 7.2 percent, the fastest pace since December last year, while imports unexpectedly fell by 1.4 percent. The country's trade surplus with the United States widened to USD 32.46 billion in July from USD 29.41 billion in June. Renewed tensions between the US and China could hit trade figures ahead of the US presidential election in November. Meanwhile, Washington and Beijing are set to meet on August 15th to review the implementation of the Phase 1 trade deal reached early this year.
Published on 2020-08-07

China Trade Surplus Below Estimates
China's trade surplus narrowed to USD 46.42 billion in June 2020 from USD 49.60 billion in the same month the previous year and far less than market expectations of a USD 58.6 billion surplus. Exports unexpectedly grew by 0.5 percent yoy, defying market consensus of a 1.5 percent fall; while imports unexpectedly rose at a faster 2.7 percent, also beating estimates of a 10 percent slump. China's politically sensitive trade surplus with the US widened to USD 29.41 billion in June from USD 27.89 billion in May. Considering the first six months of the year, the trade surplus narrowed to USD 168.02 billion from USD 176.69 billion in the corresponding period of 2019. Exports were 6.2 percent lower than in 2019, while imports were down 7.1 percent.
Published on 2020-07-14

China Trade Surplus Largest on Record
China's trade surplus widened sharply to USD 62.93 billion in May 2020 from USD 41.20 billion in the same month the previous year and far above market expectations of a USD 39 billion surplus. It was the largest trade surplus since the series began in January 1981, as exports dropped less imports, amid growing tensions with the US. Exports dropped by 3.3 percent year-on-year to USD 206.81 billion, after a 3.5 percent rise in the previous month and better than market expectations of a 7 percent decline, as the coronavirus health crisis ravaged business activity and global demand. Meanwhile, Imports slumped 16.7 percent year-on-year USD 143.89 billion, following a 14.2 percent fall in the prior month and compared to market expectations of a 9.7 percent drop. China's trade surplus with the US stood at USD 27.89 billion in May. Considering the first five months of the year, the trade surplus narrowed to USD 121.36 billion from USD 127.09 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.
Published on 2020-06-07

China April Trade Surplus Larger than Forecast
China's trade surplus widened to USD 45.34 billion in April 2020 from USD 13.02 billion in the same month the previous year and far above market expectations of a USD 9.7 billion surplus. Exports unexpectedly rose for the first time in four months while imports posted the biggest drop in over four years amid the coronavirus outbreak. China's politically sensitive trade surplus with the US was USD 22.9 billion in April, compared to USD 15.3 billion in March. Considering the first four months of the year, the trade surplus narrowed to USD 58.40 billion from USD 85.89 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.
Published on 2020-05-07

China March Trade Surplus Larger than Forecast
China's trade surplus narrowed sharply to USD 19.9 billion in March 2020 from USD 31.5 billion in the same month of the previous year, but slightly above market expectations of USD 18.55 billion. Exports and imports fell less than anticipated as factories resumed production. China's politically sensitive trade surplus with the United States was USD 15.3 billion, accounting for three-quarters of its March surplus. For the first three months of the year, China's trade surplus totaled USD 12.8 billion.
Published on 2020-04-14

China Posts First Trade Gap Since March 2018
China unexpectedly reported a trade deficit of USD 7.09 billion in January-February 2020 combined, missing market expectations of a surplus of USD 24.6 billion. This was the first trade gap since March 2018, reflecting the severe impact of the rapid spread of COVID-19 outbreak to the country's economy. Year-on-year, exports slumped 17.2 percent to USD 292.49 billion, compared with market estimates of a 14.2 percent fall; while imports shrank 4% to USD 299.54 billion, compared with consensus of a 15 percent decline. China's trade surplus with the US for the first two months of the year stood at USD 25.37 billion, much lower than a surplus of USD 42.16 billion in the corresponding period a year earlier.
Published on 2020-03-07

China Delays Trade Data Release
China will combine January and February trade data, instead of releasing separate figures for each month, Reuters reported. The country applies the same procedure to other indicators such as industrial production, fixed investment and retail sales, aiming to better deal with distortions caused by the Lunar New Year holidays which fall in either January or February, depending on the years. China trade data for January was expected to be released on February 7th but was delayed.
Published on 2020-02-07

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