Chinese Export Growth Rebounds as War Fails to Curb Trade (1)

May 9, 2026, 10:56 AM UTC

China’s export growth rebounded more than expected despite disruptions to shipping caused by the war in Iran, as trade volumes swell due to an investment boom in artificial intelligence.

Exports rose 14.1% in April from a year earlier, according to a statement released by the General Administration of Customs on Saturday. That compares with the median forecast of 8.4% in a Bloomberg survey of economists and a 2.5% gain in March. Imports rose 25.3%, resulting in a trade surplus of $84.82 billion.

The improvement in outbound shipments followed a surprisingly steep slowdown in China’s exports during the first month of ...

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