Group 1: Export Performance - In July, China's exports in USD terms increased by 7.2% year-on-year, slightly below the forecast of 7.5% but exceeding Bloomberg's expectation of 5.4%[3] - The month-on-month export growth was -1.1%, which is below the historical average of approximately 3.3% over the past decade, indicating a weaker performance compared to historical trends[4] - The resilience of exports is notable despite the significant tariffs imposed by the US, with cumulative year-on-year growth reaching 6.1% as of July, surpassing the 5.8% growth expected for 2024[7] Group 2: Import Dynamics - July imports also exceeded expectations, with a year-on-year growth of 4.1%, significantly higher than the forecast of -1% and the previous month's growth of 1.1%[6] - The primary contributors to the import growth were raw materials and intermediate goods, including crude oil, copper ore, and integrated circuits, with "other unspecified goods" contributing 4.5 percentage points to the import growth[6] - The sustainability of this import growth remains uncertain, particularly as commodity prices decline and manufacturing PMI import indices remain below the threshold, indicating potential downward pressure on future import growth[6] Group 3: Regional Export Insights - The strongest export growth was observed in three regions: ASEAN, Africa, and the EU, which collectively contributed 6 percentage points to the year-on-year export growth in July[4] - Exports to the EU have been recovering in line with the manufacturing cycle in the Eurozone, with growth rates for exports to the EU maintaining around 9%-10% since March[7] - Exports to Africa showed the highest growth, particularly in vehicles and parts, with year-on-year growth soaring from 52.3% in April to 82.9% in June, significantly boosting overall export performance to Africa[6] Group 4: Future Outlook - The overall outlook for exports suggests potential adjustments in the second half of the year, with external demand expected to slow down and the impact of high base effects in the fourth quarter likely to exert downward pressure on year-on-year growth rates[6] - Leading indicators from G7 countries suggest that China's export growth may range between 3%-4% for the year, with a potential slowdown to 0%-2% in the latter half[6] - The combination of external demand pressures and high base effects could lead to a challenging environment for maintaining current export growth levels[6]

Core Viewpoints - In July, China's export growth rate exceeded Bloomberg's consensus expectations, with a year-on-year increase of 7.2%, slightly below the company's forecast of 7.5% but higher than the previous value of 5.9% [2][4] - The resilience of exports is supported by low base effects and driven by three key regions: ASEAN, EU, and Africa, which may continue to provide unexpected strength against US tariff pressures [4][6] - Import growth in July significantly surpassed expectations, primarily driven by raw materials and intermediate goods, including crude oil and integrated circuits, indicating potential future pressures on import demand [4][11] Group 1: Trade Data Observations - July's export data aligns closely with the company's expectations, with a year-on-year increase supported by a low base from the previous year, while the month-on-month figure fell below the historical average [6][12] - The resilience of exports is notable given the backdrop of significant US tariff increases, with cumulative export growth remaining robust despite potential "export rush" factors [6][16] - The overall external demand may face downward pressure in the second half of the year, compounded by the potential for a decline in import demand [9][10] Group 2: Regional Export Performance - Exports to the EU, ASEAN, and Africa have shown strong growth, contributing significantly to the overall export performance in July [7][17] - The recovery in EU exports aligns with the manufacturing cycle in the Eurozone, while ASEAN exports may be influenced by transshipment trade dynamics [20][23] - African exports have been particularly strong, driven by vehicle and parts exports, indicating a divergence from trends seen in other regions [26][29] Group 3: Export Outlook - Short-term export resilience is expected to face adjustments due to external demand slowing and high base effects in the fourth quarter [9][34] - Leading indicators suggest that export growth may range between 3%-4% for the year, with potential declines in the second half [10][34] Group 4: Import Performance - July's import growth rate of 4.1% significantly exceeded expectations, driven by various categories including crude oil and integrated circuits [38][60] - The contribution to import growth primarily came from unlisted other goods, indicating a potential reliance on specific categories for sustained growth [11][39] - Future import growth may face challenges due to declining commodity prices and ongoing pressures in the manufacturing sector [39][63]

Trade Performance - In July, China's exports reached $321.78 billion, with a year-on-year growth rate of 7.2%, significantly exceeding the market expectation of 5.4%[6] - Imports totaled $223.54 billion, with a year-on-year growth rate of 4.1%, far surpassing the expected decline of 1%[6] - The trade surplus narrowed to $98.24 billion due to stronger import growth outpacing exports[6] Sector-Specific Insights - Semiconductor-related companies accelerated inventory buildup, leading to improved performance in integrated circuit exports[2] - The potential increase in drug pricing due to tariffs prompted domestic companies to expedite imports of medicinal materials and pharmaceuticals[2] - Exports to Latin America and Taiwan showed strong performance, with Taiwan exports increasing by 18.1% month-on-month[8] Risks and Future Outlook - The "rush" effect in trade is expected to be unsustainable, with potential risks of export pressure and import reliance on domestic demand[2] - The uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff policies poses a significant risk to China's export outlook[7]

Export Performance - In May, export growth was 4.8%, down 3.3 percentage points from the previous month, indicating a decline in momentum[3] - Cumulative export growth for May was 6.0%, higher than the annual growth rate from last year, suggesting continued resilience[3] - Exports to the US fell sharply by 34.5%, a decline of 13.5 percentage points compared to the previous month[4] Regional Export Trends - Exports to the EU increased by 12.0%, up 3.7 percentage points from the previous month, with Germany contributing a growth rate of 21.5%[4] - Exports to Canada rose by 20.3%, indicating a continuation of transshipment trade[4] - ASEAN exports showed resilience with a contribution of 2.5 percentage points to overall export growth, accounting for 52.6% of the total[4] Product-Specific Insights - Labor-intensive products like bags, textiles, and footwear saw declines in export growth rates of -10.3%, -2.0%, and -5.6% respectively, dragging down overall export growth by 0.3 percentage points[5] - High-tech products, particularly integrated circuits, saw a significant increase in export growth of 33.4%[5] - Automotive exports improved significantly with a growth rate of 13.7%, up 9.3 percentage points from the previous month[5] Import Trends - Import growth fell by 3.4%, a decrease of 3.2 percentage points from the previous month, primarily due to declining prices of bulk commodities like coal and crude oil[7] - Agricultural imports showed recovery with a growth rate of 0.7%, up 17.96 percentage points from the previous month, driven by soybeans and grains[7] Future Outlook - Export resilience is expected to continue in the short term, supported by adjustments in shipping capacity to the US and sustained demand from ASEAN[8] - However, potential pressures on exports are anticipated in the second half of the year due to changes in US tariff policies and the expiration of exemptions on certain goods[8]

Core Viewpoint - In May, China's export growth rate recorded a year-on-year increase of 4.8%, showing resilience despite a high base effect and a 3.3 percentage point decline from April, with trade surplus continuing to expand [1][2][12] Export Performance - The export performance in May is characterized by a slight decline but remains robust, primarily driven by re-exports and a temporary easing of reciprocal tariffs [2][12] - The high base from the previous year and significant reciprocal tariffs in early May suppressed exports, while direct exports to the U.S. continue to decline [2][12] - In the latter half of May, the easing of reciprocal tariffs and high export levels to ASEAN and other re-export countries provided support for exports [2][12] Quantity and Price Analysis - The analysis of export growth by quantity and price indicates a decline in quantity-driven growth, while price drag has narrowed [4] - The significant drop in quantity-driven growth is attributed to tariffs and high base effects, with raw materials showing a notable decline in quantity contribution [4] Regional and Category Insights - Exports to the EU (12.1%) and Africa (33.5%) showed a counter-trend increase, while exports to other regions, including Latin America (2.3%) and the U.S. (-34.4%), saw significant declines [6] - The increase in exports to the EU is likely benefiting from European recovery and improved China-EU trade relations, while exports to ASEAN remain high [6] Product-Specific Trends - Integrated circuits continue to see strong re-export activity, with a year-on-year increase of 33.7%, while other electronic products experienced varying degrees of decline [8] - In the automotive sector, exports increased by 13.7%, and shipbuilding exports surged by 44% [8] - Labor-intensive products like clothing (3%) and toys (-0.6%) showed mixed results, with textiles (-1.9%) and footwear (-5.5%) experiencing more significant declines [8] Import Dynamics - In May, China's import growth rate fell to -3.4%, a decline of over 3 percentage points from April, with imports from major trading partners, except the EU (0%), also decreasing [10] - The decline in imports is attributed to reduced demand for assembly materials and weakening domestic demand [10] - Notably, imports of agricultural products saw a significant rebound, with soybeans increasing by 22.6% [11] Trade Surplus - China's trade surplus expanded to $103.22 billion in May, reflecting a recovery from April [12] - Future export outlook suggests that the temporary easing of reciprocal tariffs will expire in a month, and ongoing monitoring of high-frequency indicators is necessary to observe potential turning points in re-exports and direct exports [15]

Export Data Analysis - In May, China's export amount decreased by 4.8% year-on-year, below the expected 6.2% and previous value of 8.1%[4] - Exports to the United States saw a significant decline, with a year-on-year drop of 34.5%[5] - The combined export growth to ASEAN and Latin America was only 2.9%, a decrease of 2.4 percentage points from the previous month[5] Import Data Insights - Imports fell by 3.4% year-on-year, significantly lower than the market expectation of a 0.3% increase[7] - The decline in imports reflects ongoing challenges in domestic demand recovery, as indicated by the worsening impact on consumer prices[6] Market Dynamics - The slowdown in U.S. import demand has negatively affected China's export momentum, particularly to ASEAN and Latin America[5] - The global manufacturing new orders index dropped to 49.1%, indicating a contraction in manufacturing activity[5] Structural Changes in Exports - There is a noticeable structural differentiation in export categories, with mechanical and high-tech products experiencing a continuous slowdown in growth rates[6] - Specific categories like integrated circuits have temporarily benefited from tariff exemptions, showing resilience amidst broader declines[6]