Core Viewpoints - In October, China's exports unexpectedly turned negative with a year-on-year decline of -1.1%, significantly below Bloomberg's consensus expectation of 3% and down from 8.3% in September. Imports also fell short of expectations, growing only 1% compared to a forecast of 3.2% and a previous value of 7.4% [2][50]. Group 1: October Export Analysis - The unexpected negative export growth in October was influenced by base effects, with a two-year average year-on-year growth of 5.5%, close to September's 5.3%. The month-on-month export decline was -7.1%, nearing historical lows [4][7]. - Exports to the US showed marginal improvement, while exports to the EU indicated signs of weakness. The US exports were at a seasonal high for two consecutive months, while EU exports approached their lowest levels in the past decade [8][20]. - The decline in exports to the EU was notable, with a year-on-year drop to 1.4% in October from 14% in September, indicating a significant slowdown in demand [61][62]. Group 2: Outlook for Q4 Exports - For Q4, several factors are to be considered: a low base in November and a slightly higher base in December, with potential year-on-year growth rates of 4.3% and 0.4% respectively, leading to an overall Q4 export growth of approximately 1.2% [24][25]. - The reduction of the fentanyl tariff by the US on November 10 may stimulate exports to the US, as the tariff reduction narrows the tax rate gap with other regions [9][25]. - Leading indicators suggest that export growth may rebound in November and December, with the OECD composite leading indicators for G7 countries indicating a potential recovery [10][25]. Group 3: Insights for 2026 Exports - The analysis framework for understanding exports is based on the "volume, price, share" method, indicating that the core issue for exports is global trade volume, which can be tracked using a leading indicator system [5][41]. - The resilience of China's exports this year is attributed to global trade volume and maintaining market share through price adjustments. The export price growth has been lagging behind global trade price growth, indicating a reliance on relative price advantages [13][32]. - For next year, the risks to export share are expected to decrease due to the partial reduction of tariffs, and the overall export share may remain stable even if export prices recover [40][41].

Export Data Overview - In October, China's exports in USD terms decreased by 1.1% year-on-year, significantly lower than the Bloomberg consensus expectation of 3% and down from 8.3% in September[2] - October's exports saw a month-on-month decline of 7.1%, approaching historical lows (2022's -7.7%) due to seasonal factors and a high base effect from the previous year[5] - The two-year average year-on-year growth for October was 5.5%, similar to September's 5.3%[3] Regional Analysis - Exports to the US showed marginal improvement, with a month-on-month increase of 1.8%, marking a significant recovery compared to historical lows in July and August[18] - Conversely, exports to the EU exhibited weakness, with a month-on-month decline of 8.6% in October, indicating potential risks in EU demand[18] - Exports to ASEAN countries improved slightly, with a month-on-month change of -0.7%, aligning closely with historical averages[19] Future Outlook - For Q4, the low base in November and slightly higher base in December suggest potential year-on-year growth of 1.2% for Q4, with an annual growth estimate of 4.8%[21] - The reduction of the fentanyl tariff by the US may further enhance export performance to the US, as it narrows the tax rate gap with other regions[21] - Leading indicators from G7 countries suggest a potential recovery in export growth for November and December[22] Price and Volume Dynamics - The average export price for 15 major products increased by 5.1% in October, driven by significant price rises in ships, while the export volume growth for these products fell to 5.2%[57] - The overall export price index showed a year-on-year decline of 2.5% for the first eight months of the year, lagging behind global trade price growth of 1%[31] Trade Balance - The trade surplus in October was reported at $901 billion, slightly down from $904 billion in September, indicating a narrowing trend[54]