AI Demand Is Shielding China’s Booming Trade From War Shocks (1)

An investment boom in artificial intelligence has kept China’s trade volumes on a path to exceed last year’s record levels, offsetting disruptions from higher oil prices in the weeks after war broke out in Iran.

Nearly 20 million containers moved through Chinese ports in the first three weeks of March, an increase of more than 6% from the same period a year ago, according to data released on Monday by the Ministry of Transport.

While moderating from the 12% gain seen in the first nine weeks of the year, the pace of increase indicates that aftershocks from the conflict in ...