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China posts first import growth since pandemic, exports also up

14 July 2020 15:24 (UTC +04:00)

China’s imports in June rose for the first time since the coronavirus crisis paralysed the economy this year, as demand for commodities surged on the back of government stimulus, while exports also rose in a sign the recovery is gaining traction, APA reports citing Reuters.

Beijing has doled out aggressive stimulus to support domestic demand even as a resurgence in coronavirus infections around the world has raised questions about the strength of a rebound in global economic activity.

China’s imports in June rose 2.7% from a year earlier, customs data showed on Tuesday, confounding market expectations for a 10% drop. They had fallen 16.7% the previous month.

Exports also rose unexpectedly, up 0.5%, suggesting global demand is starting to pick up again as many countries begin to ease tough anti-virus measures that have pushed the world’s economy into its biggest slump in almost 90 years. Analyst had estimated a 1.5% drop following a 3.3% decline in May.

“The significant improvement in China’s imports is an indication of the country’s accelerating economic recovery, which has been mainly driven by substantial increases in investments in sectors such as real estate and infrastructure,” said Boyang Xue, a China analyst at consultancy firm DuckerFrontier.

Indeed, iron ore imports jumped to the highest in 33 months in June, the trade data showed, fuelled by rising shipments from miners and robust demand. Crude oil imports also hit an all-time high amid bargain hunting by Chinese refiners as oil prices collapsed.