China's export growth weakens to 2020 low as Covid-19 lockdowns bite

China’s exports and imports struggled in April as worsening Covid outbreaks cut demand, undermined production and disrupted logistics in the world’s second-largest economy.

Export growth in April in dollar terms slowed to 3.9% from a year earlier, compared to an increase in March of 14.7%, customs data showed Monday. That’s the weakest pace since June 2020 but faster than the median estimate of a 2.7% gain in a Bloomberg survey of economists. 

Imports were unchanged in April after sliding 0.1% in the previous month. Economists expected a 3% decline.

April’s data captures the impact of Covid restrictions on the trade and manufacturing hub