MNI 5 THINGS: China Sept Exports Rebound as Surplus Gains

     BEIJING (MNI) - China's General Administration of Customs announced

September trade statistics on Friday. Below are five highlights from the

release:

     - Exports rose by 14.5% y/y to USD226.69 billion in September, rebounding

from August's 9.8% y/y growth and beating a forecast of 9.0% by MNI survey. The

growth was the second-fastest so far this year. Exports for the first three

quarters increased by 12.2% y/y to USD1.83 trillion. 

     - Imports increased by 14.3% y/y to USD195.00 billion, slowing from last

month's 20.0% surge and lower than market's survey of 15.5%. Imports for the

first three quarters were USD1.61 trillion, 20.0% higher than a year ago.

     - Trade surplus expanded to USD31.69 billion in September from USD27.91

billion last month, the largest in the last three months. Year-to-date surplus

was the smallest in five years at USD221.38 billion. 

     - Exports to the U.S. in September expanded by 14.0% y/y to USD46.69

billion. Imports from the U.S. fell 1.3% y/y to USD12.56 billion. The surplus of

USD34.13 billion increased from $31.05 billion in August. The stronger

indicators may surprise analysts given that trade conflicts escalated since

July.

     - China's exports to the EU and Japan gained 17.4% and 3.1% y/y while

imports rose by 9.3% and 3.1%, respectively.

--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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