Key Points
- China’s exports rose 5.9 % in November year-on-year, reversing a 1.1 % drop in October.
- Imports rose 1.9 %, lifting the monthly trade surplus to US$111.68 billion.
- Exports to the US fell nearly 29 %, marking the eighth straight month of steep declines.
- Stronger demand from the EU, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa helped offset the drop in US-bound shipments.
ISLAMABAD: China’s exports rebounded in November, surpassing expectations, even as shipments to the United States continued to decline, reflecting a shift in trade patterns and resilience in global demand.
China’s export value reached about US$330.3 billion in November, up 5.9 % year-on-year, defying economists’ estimates and reversing the 1.1 % decline seen in October, according to Reuters. Imports increased by 1.9 %, pushing the trade surplus to US$111.68 billion — the highest monthly surplus since June.
Exports to the US fell nearly 29 %, marking the eighth consecutive month of double-digit decline, amid ongoing trade tensions and the end of tariff-related front-loading, AP News reported. However, stronger sales to the European Union, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa helped offset the drop, supporting overall export growth.
For the first 11 months of 2025, China’s trade surplus surpassed US$1 trillion, setting a record for a full year.
The rebound comes even as domestic manufacturing shows signs of weakness. Private surveys and official Purchasing Managers’ Index data indicated continued contraction in industrial activity in November, highlighting sluggish domestic demand.
