MNI 5 THINGS: China August Exports and Imports Slow from July

     BEIJING (MNI) - Here are five major points from China's August trade data: 

     - Exports rose in Aug by 9.8% y/y to USD217.43 billion, below 10.0% y/y

forecast by MNI survey and slower than the 12.2% y/y in July. Exports for the

first eight months increased by 12.2% y/y to USD1.60 trillion. 

     - Imports increased by 20.0% y/y to USD189.52 billion, slower than last

month's 27.3% surge and above market's survey of 19.3%. Imports in the first

eight months were USD1.41 trillion, 20.9% higher than a year ago.

     - Trade surplus narrowed to USD27.91 billion, the smallest for an August

month in six years. Year-to-date surplus was the smallest in five years at

USD193.66 billion. 

     - China's exports to the U.S. in August expanded by 13.2% y/y to USD44.38

billion. Imports from the U.S. rose 2.3% y/y to USD13.33 billion. The surplus

was at USD31.05 billion compared with $28.09 billion last month.

     - China's exports to the EU and Japan gained 8.4% and 3.8% y/y while

imports rose by 10.3% and 10.5%.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; tel: +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: flora.guo@marketnews.com

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com

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