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CHINA DATA: Exports End 2024 Firmer, But Uncertain 2025 Outlook

CHINA DATA

China Dec trade figures were better than expected. Exports rose 10.7%y/y against a 7.5% forecast 6.7% prior. Since a trough in March last year, exports have mostly been on a modestly improving trend. 2025 remains much more uncertain though, given the returning Trump administration to the White House Imports also beat expectations, up 1.0%y/y (versus -1.0% forecast and -3.9% prior. The trade surplus was near $105bn, against a $100bn forecast.  

  • On the export side, shipments to the US rose 15.7%y/y, up from 7.3% in Nov. In levels terms, exports to the US were the highest since Q3 2022. Exports to Taiwan also bounced to 14.2% and were quite firm ASEAN economies (+19.2%) and the EU (+8.8%y/y).
  • The trade surplus with the US eased a touch to $33.50bn, but is still elevated by recent standards.
  • On the import side, commodity import volumes were mixed. Oil and coal were both down in Dec from a volume standpoint, coal was still a healthy +14.4%y/y, but oil was off 1.9%. Iron ore import volumes surged to over 112mln tones (up over 10% in m/m terms. Natural Gas volumes were also stronger in m/m terms and up close to 10%y/y. 

Fig 1: China Export & Import Trade Trends Y/Y

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China Dec trade figures were better than expected. Exports rose 10.7%y/y against a 7.5% forecast 6.7% prior. Since a trough in March last year, exports have mostly been on a modestly improving trend. 2025 remains much more uncertain though, given the returning Trump administration to the White House Imports also beat expectations, up 1.0%y/y (versus -1.0% forecast and -3.9% prior. The trade surplus was near $105bn, against a $100bn forecast.  

  • On the export side, shipments to the US rose 15.7%y/y, up from 7.3% in Nov. In levels terms, exports to the US were the highest since Q3 2022. Exports to Taiwan also bounced to 14.2% and were quite firm ASEAN economies (+19.2%) and the EU (+8.8%y/y).
  • The trade surplus with the US eased a touch to $33.50bn, but is still elevated by recent standards.
  • On the import side, commodity import volumes were mixed. Oil and coal were both down in Dec from a volume standpoint, coal was still a healthy +14.4%y/y, but oil was off 1.9%. Iron ore import volumes surged to over 112mln tones (up over 10% in m/m terms. Natural Gas volumes were also stronger in m/m terms and up close to 10%y/y. 

Fig 1: China Export & Import Trade Trends Y/Y

Keep reading...Show less