๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ'๐ ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐๐บ๐ฝ ๐ญ๐ต.๐ฐ% ๐ถ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ
China's exports rose 19.4% in May from a year earlier. The growth rate increased from 14.1% in April.
Imports climbed 27.4% in May from a year earlier, up from 25.3% in April.
Technology products and electric vehicles drove the gains.
- Exports to the United States surged over 35% in May. This marked the strongest growth since early 2021. The April increase was 11%.
- Semiconductor exports more than doubled in value during May.
- Automobile exports rose nearly 40%.
- BYD sold over 160,600 vehicles overseas in May. This represents an 80% increase from the previous year.
Analysts point to global demand for artificial intelligence and clean energy technologies. Lynn Song serves as chief economist for Greater China at ING. Song said ships, chips, autos, and batteries continue to find strong demand during the global tech boom. Higher prices across the technology supply chain have also lifted export values.
Wei Li leads Multi-Asset Investments at BNP Paribas Securities. Li said exports help the Chinese economy manage rising global energy prices and inflation.
Economists note the sharp rise in exports to the United States is partly due to weak data from 2025. Shipments had dropped after President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs took effect in April 2025. The weak previous year makes yearly growth numbers look bigger.
Trump visited Beijing in May and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both sides agreed to establish trade and investment boards.
China set an economic growth target of 4.5% to 5% for 2026. ING's Song said the strong trade performance at the start of the year should help the economy meet this goal.
Analysts expect advanced semiconductors and electric vehicles to remain major contributors to export growth through the rest of 2026.