China Economic Growth

China's economy slowed sharply to 4.3 per cent in the second quarter, its lowest since 2022, weighed down by stagnant domestic demand and higher energy costs linked to the US-Iran war offsetting the robust export growth. China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.7 per cent year on year in the first half of 2026, generating around 69.57 trillion yuan (about USD 10.25 trillion) in output, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced on Wednesday. But the world's second-largest economy expanded by 4.3 per cent in the April-June quarter, slowing from 5 per cent growth in the first quarter, falling below China's annual growth target. The first full quarter of GDP data since the start of the US-Iran war in February marks the lowest quarterly expansion since the end of 2022, the period when China emerged from its strict Covid-19 restrictions. The GDP data came a day after official customs figures showed China's exports surged by 27 per cent year-on-year in June, underscoring the ..

GDP grew 4.3% from a year ago, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, below the bottom of this year's official target range of 4.5% to 5%

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China's exports accelerated in June, jumping 27 per cent from a year earlier, its customs agency said Tuesday, driven by strong demand due to the boom in artificial intelligence. The increase in exports in June was much better than economists had expected. Exports rose 19.4 per cent year-on-year in May. Imports in June surged 36 per cent, stronger than May's 27.4 per cent year-on-year growth. China's exports of vehicles, especially EVs, and other tech-related products have boomed as rapid expansion of use of AI increases demand for semiconductors and other electronic equipment. The strength in export manufacturing has helped to offset weakness in domestic demand.

The reading beat expectations of a 4.3 per centincrease in a Reuters poll

Exports expanded 19.4 per cent from a year earlier in U.S. dollar value terms, customs data showed on Tuesday, outpacing the 14.1 per cent gain in April and a 15 per cent rise tipped by economists

The business models, based on flying $5 dresses from Chinese factories to shoppers, were already under pressure after Trump introduced tariffs and axed customs waivers on low-value parcels last year

The RatingDog China General Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, fell to 51.8 in May from 52.2 in April, but was slightly above analysts' forecast of 51.6

The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) dropped to 50 from 50.3 in April, straddling the 50-mark separating growth from contraction

Retail sales, a gauge of consumption, rose just 0.2 per cent in April, cooling sharply from 1.7 per cent in March and marking the weakest gain since December 2022

The producer price index (PPI) increased 2.8 per cent from a year earlier, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data showed

The RatingDog China General Services purchasing managers' index, compiled by S&P Global, rose to 52.6 in April from 52.1 in March, staying above the 50-mark that separates expansion from contraction

China's economy accelerated in the first quarter of this year, expanding 5% from a year earlier as it largely shrugged off impacts from the Iran war so far, according to data released Thursday. The January-March data released by the government, covering a period during which the Iran war began, was better than what economists expected and was up from the 4.5% growth seen in the October-December quarter. Economists expect China to be able to weather short term impacts from the Iran war, now in its seventh week. The war is pushing energy prices higher, worsening inflation and impacting global economic growth. But longer term, areas including global demand for Chinese exports could take a hit. The International Monetary Fund this week lowered its economic growth forecast for China to a 4.4% expansion for 2026. Chinese leaders last month set an economic growth target of 4.5 per cent to 5% for this year, the slowest since 1991.

China's exports grew 2.5 per cent in March from a year ago, significantly slowing from the previous two months as uncertainties rose from the Iran war and its impact on energy prices and global demand. The March export data released by China's customs agency Tuesday missed analysts' estimates and was sharply down from the 21.8 per cent export growth recorded for January and February. Imports last month surged 27.8 per cent, up from the 19.8 per cent year-on-year increase in the first two months of this year. Technology-related exports including a jump in shipments of semiconductors from China on the global artificial intelligence boom have powered its robust exports in early 2026, but economists say impacts from the prolonged Iran war could affect overall global demand for Chinese exports this year.

The sub-indexes for output and new orders both rose above 51 from below 50 the previous month, while that for new export orders improved to 49.1 from 45 in February

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China will focus on promoting high-quality development and continue to create a favourable business environment so that companies coming to China can develop with confidence and achieve great success

Industrial production climbed 6.3% in the January-February period from a year ago, its fastest growth since September and up from 5.2% in December

China's domestic passenger car sales fell 34.2% in February from a year earlier, an industry association said Wednesday, reflecting weakening demand as some trade-in subsidies are phased out. Only 950,000 units of passenger cars were sold in China last month, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, down from nearly 1.4 million vehicles sold in January. Overall passenger car sales including exports dropped 15.4% year-on-year, even as shipments overseas jumped 58% to 586,000, highlighting the challenges for Chinese carmakers trying to offset sluggish domestic sales by expanding into foreign markets. Automakers have been struggling with weak demand as the government has been phasing out trade-in subsidies to encourage purchases of electric vehicles. Chinese consumers have also been steering clear of big purchases, feeling a pinch from a slowing economy and protracted property slump. The Lunar New Year festival, China's biggest holiday, took place in February, .

China's exports rose nearly 22% in the first two months of the year from a year earlier, as its trade with countries other than the United States expanded. The export figures released by China's customs agency on Tuesday were much better than economists had forecast. They far exceeded the 6.6% annual pace of growth recorded in December. Imports in January and February rose almost 20%, up from December's 5.7% year-on-year increase. However, China's imports from the United States dropped nearly 27% from a year earlier. China's exports have been a bright spot for its economy despite tensions with the US. China's exports climbed 5.5% for 2025 as its trade surplus surged to a record of nearly $1.2 trillion. Higher shipments to other regions including Europe and Latin America helped offset a 20% drop in exports to the US as US President Donald Trump imposed a variety of higher tariffs on imports from much of the world. China's global trade surplus in January-February was $213.6 billion.