China Economic Growth

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

China economy shows surprise rebound before West Asia war disruptions

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 auto sales sink as phase out of subsidies for trade-ins hits demand

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 jump nearly 22% in Jan-Feb despite waning trade with US

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.

Why China cut its GDP growth target to 4.5-5% as risks mount in 2026

China has lowered its 2026 growth target to 4.5-5%, the lowest since 1991, as weak domestic demand, property sector troubles and rising global tensions add uncertainty to the nation

China raises nuclear capacity target despite missing earlier goals

The government last week set a goal of 110 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2030 in its latest five-year plan draft, a 76 per cent jump from the end of last year

China's 'smart economy' strategy spurs hunt for new stock winners

The latest signals from Beijing's political gathering have reinforced the view that tech self-reliance and industrial upgrading will anchor economic growth in the years to come

What China's latest economic plans say about tech ambitions, US rivalry

Two major economic plans unveiled at the annual meeting of China's legislature outline top priorities that have different ramifications for the global economy. In the government plan for 2026, the No. 1 task is "building a robust domestic market". Then comes accelerating technological progress. But longer-term, a plan for the next five years, gives more prominence to achieving advances in tech. The subtle difference highlights the government's balancing act. Its overarching goal is to transform from a low-cost manufacturing to a tech-driven economy. But a more immediate concern is dealing with a prolonged period of sluggishness that has depressed consumer and business confidence. China is such a large exporter that the choices it makes affect countries and jobs around the world. The plans, presented at the recent opening of the National People's Congress, offer a window into the government's thinking. They are set to be formally endorsed by the rubber-stamp legislature at the end o

China's $23.9 bn port push: How Beijing is reshaping global maritime trade

A new global report shows Beijing has financed hundreds of port projects across continents, expanding its role in maritime trade infrastructure