Free Trial

MNI: China Dec Imports Slow On Weaker Commodity Purchases

MNI (Beijing)
--Exports Growth Rate 3th Highest in 2017
--Imports Growth Rate Eases To the Slowest in 2017
--Trade Surplus Surges 23-month High 
     BEIJING (MNI) - Data released Friday by the General Administration of
Customs:
                   Balance (bln $)  Exports Y/Y %  Imports Y/Y %
----------------------------------------------------------------
December                      54.7           10.9            4.5
MNI Survey Median             38.0           10.0           15.0
Previous                      40.2           12.3           17.7
     FACTORS:
--China Dec. Seasonally Adj. Exports +7.0% m/m VS +7.4% Nov.
--China Dec. Seasonally Adj. Imports +3.4% m/m VS -5.5% Nov.
--China Dec. Seasonally Adj. Exports +12.7% y/y VS +12.8% Nov.
--China Dec. Seasonally Adj. Imports +8.7% y/y VS +17.8% Nov.
     TAKEAWAY: Chinese exports and imports growth both decelerated in December
with imports registering slowest gain in a year. Trade surplus rose to  highest
since January, 2016. 
     The slowdown indicated both domestic and overseas demand lost their stream
last month, particularly domestic demand. 
     --IMPORTS SHAPRLY SLOWER
     Overall imports by the second-largest economy increased 4.5% year-on-year
in December, much lower than median forecast for a 15.0% gain and well below the
17.7% rise in November. 
     The sluggish domestic demand for commodities contributed to the slowdown
after production restrictions imposed by supply-side reform and environmental
protection. Inventory of commodities also rose sharply in recent months,
reducing demand for further purchases.
     Imports of iron ore, totaling 84.14 million tons, decreased 11% in December
from November, compared with a increase of 18.93% in the previous. Petroleum
product imports decreased 9% to 37.04 million tons, from a increase of 3.62% in
November. 
     The rising prices of some commodities including petroleum products
discouraged imports. High comparison bases in December last year also
contributed the weak year-on-year growth rates. 
     The performance of imports was in contrast to the official CFLP
manufacturing PMI, with the import sub-index rising to 50.2 from 50.0 in
November.
     --STRONG EXPORTS
     According to the General Administration of Customs, December exports rose
10.9% year-on-year in U.S. dollar terms, higher than MNI's survey median
forecast for a 10.0% y/y gain and below the growth rate of 12.3% in November.
     Among China's three biggest trading partners, export growth to the United
States and the European decelerated while exports growth Japan largely
accelerated.  
     Exports to the U.S. rose 12.7% year-on-year to $41.76 billion, down from
14.3% growth in November. Exports to the European Union grew 12.7% to $37.75
billion, compared with a 13.2% growth in the previous month. However, exports to
Japan rose 14.9% to $12.95 billion, the highest growth rate in 2017. 
     --SURGING TRADE SURPLUS  
     The import growth rate continued to outpace the export growth rate in
December, the 17th consecutive month it has done so, but level of exports
continue to exceed that of imports, resulting in a $54.69 billion trade surplus.
The surplus was higher than the MNI survey median forecast for a $37.90 billion
surplus and above November's $40.21 billion surplus.
     For the full-year 2017, trade surplus fell to $422.51 billion from $509.71
billion in 2016. Exports rose 7.9% on year while imports gained 15.9%.
     Trade is expected to grow at a slower pace in 2018. "It may be hard to
maintain a double-digit increase," Huang Songping, a customs spokesman, said in
a briefing citing uncertainties in global economy and higher basis of
comparison.
--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532 5998; email: marissa.wang@marketnews.com
--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com
[TOPICS: MAQDA$,MAQDS$,M$A$$$,M$Q$$$,MI$$$$,MT$$$$]

To read the full story

Close

Why MNI

MNI is the leading provider

of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.

Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.