Export Data Overview - In March 2025, China's exports increased by 12.4% year-on-year, significantly exceeding the expected 3.5% and reversing the previous month's decline of -3%[3] - Imports in March 2025 decreased by 4.3% year-on-year, aligning with expectations and contrasting with a 1.5% increase in the previous month[3] Factors Influencing Export Performance - The primary driver for the March export surge was seasonal effects, as early Spring and a low base from the previous year contributed to higher year-on-year figures[3] - "Rush exports" occurred ahead of tariff increases, with significant contributions from ASEAN, Latin America, and Africa, collectively boosting exports by 4.8 percentage points[3] Future Export Trends - Export growth is expected to decline in Q2 2025, potentially falling between -5% to -10% year-on-year due to the impact of tariff escalations and weakening external demand[4] - Recent logistics data indicates a significant drop in port cargo volumes, suggesting a slowdown in export activity[4] Potential Upside Factors - Signals of tariff exemptions may provide some relief, with an estimated $100 billion worth of products eligible for exemptions, potentially easing export pressures[5] - Continued "rush exports" and shifts in trade patterns towards ASEAN and other regions may sustain some export momentum[5] Risks and Policy Responses - The government is likely to implement policies aimed at mitigating employment risks due to external shocks, focusing on high-tech manufacturing sectors with significant export exposure to the U.S.[7] - If tariffs are enforced as planned, the direct impact on foreign trade revenues could exceed 1.2 trillion yuan for affected industries[7]

作者：张云杰 陶川 如我们在前期报告《 关税下出口：已知压力和未知风险 》中所指出的， 3 月还观察不到出口的下行压力，"早春"、低基数等因素将推高 当月出口同比。 但在关税升级后，后续出口将进入"新范式"。 如何看待出口的已知变化和未知风险？我们围绕以下四个问题展开回答： Q ： 3 月出口大超预期，源自哪些因素？ A ："季节性"脉冲是核心原因。 基于历史经验，春节时点靠前往往会压低 1-2 月出口、抬高 3 月出口表现（可参照 2006 、 2014 、 2017 年等春节时点与今年相近的年份， 3 月出口环比均为历史较高水平）。 今年不仅是"早春"，而且和去年形成"错位"（ 2024 年恰好是"晚 春"， 3 月出口环比较低），这些因素共同放大了 3 月出口同比读数。 从实际数据看， 3 月出口环比略高于"季节性"水平。 其次，"对等关税"落地前夕，出现了一部分"抢出口"需求。 这一因素可能解释了 3 月出口好于"季节性"的这部分。 一方面， 3 月外需是边际回落的，全球制造业 PMI 较上月下滑 0.3 个百分点至 50.3% 。 另一方面， 从国别上看，主要是对一些"转口"贸易区域的出口增速大幅反 ...

Economic Recovery - In January-February, the revenue of industrial enterprises increased by 2.8% year-on-year, up by 0.7 percentage points compared to the entire year of 2024[4] - The profits of industrial enterprises decreased by 0.3% year-on-year, but this is an improvement of 3 percentage points compared to the entire year of 2024[4] - The manufacturing PMI for March was 50.5, a rise of 0.3 percentage points from the previous month, marking a nearly one-year high[6] Trade and Tariff Impact - The ongoing increase in U.S. tariffs has extended the "export rush" effect, supporting inventory replenishment and order increases for enterprises[2] - The upcoming U.S. tariff investigation results are expected to significantly impact global trade order and suppress market risk appetite[11] - The U.S. economy continues to weaken, with the Markit manufacturing PMI dropping to 49.8 in March, indicating a contraction[18] Market Trends - The equity market has seen a shift in style, with technology stocks experiencing notable adjustments and a reduction in trading volume, indicating a convergence of market divergence[2] - Risk appetite in the market is declining, with gold prices expected to remain high due to geopolitical uncertainties and economic cooling in the U.S.[22] - The performance of dividend and consumer sectors has been relatively strong as investors seek opportunities outside of technology stocks[11]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the current state of China's export market, particularly focusing on the "rush to export" phenomenon and its potential continuation or conclusion in light of recent trade dynamics and economic conditions [2][3][4]. Export Performance - In January-February, China's dollar-denominated exports grew by 2.3% year-on-year, a decline from 9.9% in the previous quarter, primarily due to temporary factors such as fewer working days and the early timing of the Spring Festival [2][3]. - Exports to Russia, South Korea, and Africa decreased by 10.9%, 2.6%, and 0.2% respectively, while exports to the U.S. and transshipment trade remained relatively strong [3]. "Rush to Export" Analysis - The article questions whether the "rush to export" has ended and explores its potential duration. Historical context from 2018-2019 indicates that the onset of trade tensions led to significant export activity as U.S. companies sought to stockpile goods [6][11]. - The current "rush to export" is expected to be shorter and less intense than in previous trade conflicts, with an estimated duration of around 6 months due to higher initial inventory levels and rapid implementation of tariffs [11][12]. Inventory Dynamics - The article highlights that the passive inventory replenishment observed in U.S. manufacturers and wholesalers is influenced by the current economic climate, with certain sectors like electrical and electronic products showing significant room for inventory buildup [12][13]. - The inventory-to-sales ratios for various durable goods indicate that while some sectors are experiencing high sales growth, their inventory levels are relatively low, suggesting ongoing demand for exports from China [13]. Future Outlook - The article anticipates that China's export growth may rebound after temporary factors subside, with expectations of sustained resilience in export performance through the first half of the year [4][10]. - However, potential risks such as further tariff increases or unexpected downturns in the U.S. economy could impact future export trends [11].

Core Viewpoint - The significant decline in exports in January-February is primarily attributed to the end of the "export rush" rather than weak external demand, with the Spring Festival misalignment having a lesser impact [2][10][11] Export Data Analysis - January-February exports decreased by 8.4 percentage points compared to December, dropping to 2.3%, partly due to the Spring Festival misalignment, which is estimated to have reduced the growth rate by approximately 1.5 percentage points [2][10][11] - The end of the "export rush" is more pronounced, particularly in exports to the U.S., which fell by 12.5 percentage points to 3.2%, and to emerging markets, indicating a slowdown in the restructuring of overseas supply chains [2][11][12] - Specific categories that experienced significant declines include high-dependence goods like footwear, which saw a drop of 18.0 percentage points to -18.7%, and general machinery, which fell by 30.6 percentage points to -1.6% [3][12][16] Import Data Analysis - Imports in January-February saw a substantial decline of 9.4 percentage points to -8.4%, primarily due to a drop in both processing trade-related electromechanical products and bulk commodities reflecting weak domestic demand [7][18] - Electromechanical product imports rebounded slightly but were still negatively impacted by integrated circuits, which fell by 7.3 percentage points to 2.3% [18] Future Outlook - The Spring Festival misalignment is expected to continue affecting year-on-year growth rates, with a potential rebound in March exports estimated to increase by 6.6 percentage points due to this effect, outweighing the negative impacts from the end of the "export rush" and tariff imposition [4][14] - However, actual exports in March may still face significant pressure when excluding the Spring Festival effect [5][14] Structural Changes in Exports - There is a noticeable divergence in export performance across different categories, with consumer electronics like mobile phones and integrated circuits showing recovery, while textiles and furniture exports have significantly declined [15][16] - Capital goods exports have generally decreased, with notable declines in general machinery and automotive parts, while some intermediate goods like fertilizers have shown a rebound [16]