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Trade Data Helps Offset Covid Negatives

CNH

Headline trade figures for May surprised on the upside, underlying a resilient BoP picture for China, at least on the trade side. This should be supportive of CNH.

  • Export growth printed slightly more double market expectations at 16.9% (8.0% expected). Import growth was less buoyant but still above expectations (4.1% versus 2.8% expected).
  • Importantly, the rebound in export growth brings it more into line with CNY NEER YoY momentum, particularly compared to earlier in the year, see the first chart below. The NEER looked too strong in these months, relative to the export trend, but this is less the case now.

Fig 1: China Export Growth & CNY NEER YoY


Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg

  • The trade surplus also surprised on the upside by just over $20bn, coming in at $78.76bn, versus $57.70bn expected. As the second chart below highlights, the 12 month moving average of the trade surplus is still trending higher.
  • In many ways China's covid zero strategy boosts the underlying trade surplus position, via dampening import growth. Export growth has comfortably outperformed import growth over the past 3 months.
  • Higher trade surpluses should swell corporate China's FX deposit base. This is another factor which can help curb USD/CNY upside pressures.
  • USD/CNH is comfortably off its earlier highs, tracking in the low 6.6800, after reaching close to 6.7100 on negative Covid related headlines. Broader USD weakness is helping, with USD/JPY falling back below 134.00.

Fig 2: China Trade Surplus Still Trending Higher

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg

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