REPEAT: MNI DATA IMPACT: China Aug Exports Drop; Imports Fall

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 06:56 GMT Sep 8/02:56 EST Sep 8

     BEIJING (MNI) - China's August exports returned to negative year/year

growth, continuing a volatile pattern caused by the uncertainties over its trade

war with the U.S. and overall weak global demand. Imports continued to shrink as

consumption weakens.  

     Here are the key points in the release by the General Administration of

Customs on Sunday:

     - Exports fell 1.0% y/y to $214.80 billion, reversing a 3.3% y/y growth in

July and was short of forecast 2.6% y/y by MNI survey. Exports in the first

eight months expanded 0.4% from last year.

     - Imports dropped 5.6% y/y to $179.97 billion, continuing the same pace

last month and meeting projection by MNI. Imports in Jan-Aug were down 4.6% y/y.

     - Trade surplus shrank for the third month to $34.83 billion from $45.06

billion in July, rounding the year-to-date total to $259.27 billion.

- Exports to the U.S. fell 16.0% y/y, following 6.5% drop in July, while imports

plunged 22.4%. Exports to the EU slowed to 3.2% y/y compared with 6.5% in July.

Imports from the EU fell 5.2% y/y, following 3.3% y/y drop recorded in the

previous month. 

--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