
In June, China experienced a surge in exports, marking the fastest growth since March 2023 and exceeding forecasts of an 8% rise5. This was attributed to improvements in global demand and the front-loading of orders ahead of tariff increases by some trading partners. However, this robust export data was offset by a significant decline in imports, which fell 2.3% year-on-year.

In June, China's trade surplus reached a record high of $99.05 billion, with exports surging and imports shrinking. This has caused concern in foreign capitals, as officials worry about exports from China displacing their own industrial output and hurting economic growth.