China Economic Growth

China's exports slow in July despite robust demand for high-tech products

China's exports slowed slightly in July from the month before despite robust demand for high-tech electronics and vehicles. Customs data released Friday showed China's trade surplus narrowed to USD 112.5 billion from USD 125.6 billion in June. Exports rose nearly 24 per cent in July from a year earlier, compared with a 27 per cent increase in June. Imports climbed 27.5 per cent year-on-year, but that was lower than June's jump of 36 per cent. Disruptions to port operations due to typhoons helped to slow trade, analysts said. "The boom in Chinese trade slowed a touch in July but the big picture is that export and import values remain elevated, helped by soaring global demand for electronics and green tech products," Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics said in a report. The Iran war interfered with shipments of aluminum from the Middle East, leading to an increase in Chinese exports of the metal, he noted. Trade data show China has fully transitioned from providing mostly l

China's factory activity contracts unexpectedly in July as demand weakens

China's factory activity unexpectedly slowed in July, the first such contraction in five months, weighing on the pace of broader growth for the world's second-largest economy. The official manufacturing purchasing managers index, or PMI, fell to 49.2 from 50.3 in June, China's National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday, worse than what economists had expected. The sub-index on new orders fell to 48.5 in July - the lowest since 2023 - from 51.2 in June, while the sub-index for production fell to 49.9 from 51.4. PMI readings, based on surveys of factory managers, are measured on a scale of 0 to 100. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion, and below 50 reflects a contraction. "The latest (PMI) reading remains an unpromising start to the first wave of economic data for the second half of the year," Lynn Song, a chief economist for Greater China at ING Bank, said in a commentary. Weakness in domestic goods demand, including in building activity, contributed to the lower PMI figure

What is CXMT and how did it become China's most valuable listed firm?

China's biggest memory chipmaker has stunned global markets with a blockbuster stock market debut. Here is what the company does and why investors are betting big on it

China's GDP growth slows sharply in second quarter, misses target

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 ..

China's GDP growth unexpectedly slips below official target range

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%

Best of BS Opinion: Oil and monsoon will drive RBI's inflation debate

Today's opinions analyse inflation risks, education quality, AI's impact on jobs, China's economic influence and how nutrition can help improve healthy ageing

China's exports surge 27% in June as AI boom drives strong demand

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.

China's industrial output rises 4.5% in May but retail sales contract

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

China exports surge 19.4% in May as exporters rush orders, ride AI wave

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

China's global ecommerce push slows as Iran war lifts costs, weakens demand

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

China's May factory activity expands for 6th month as price pressures ease

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

China's factory activity stalls in May as demand weakens, costs rise

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

China's April growth slows as factory output, retail sales miss forecasts

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

China's April producer inflation hits 45-month high on energy price shock

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

China services activity grows at faster rate in April, shows private PMI

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 grows at 5% in Q1, shrugging off initial impact of Iran war

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 export growth slows to 2.5% in March amid Iran war uncertainty

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.

China's factory growth hits 1-year high in March despite war risks

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

Xi wants Chinese officials to drink less and it's hurting global wine trade

China's push to curb official drinking and weakening demand are leaving global wine producers with excess inventory, falling prices and shrinking export markets

China vows more open economy, national treatment for foreign companies

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