China’s exports surged by 36.3 percent year-on-year in September to reach $447.18 billion, government figures indicate, marking a significant acceleration from the 25 percent growth recorded in August. This leap represents the largest monthly increase in exports since 2021, a period when trade data was heavily skewed by pandemic-related disruptions and stringent lockdowns.

The growth was predominantly propelled by the technology sector, with semiconductor shipments skyrocketing by more than 108 percent and automatic data processing machinery jumping nearly 55 percent. Meanwhile, imports increased by 31 percent year-on-year, up from 28.2 percent in August, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs.

Market analysts note that high-tech demand, bolstered by global and domestic artificial intelligence trends, served as the primary catalyst. Furthermore, China's aggressive pricing and supply-chain competitiveness across various export categories helped sustain the momentum. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations remained Beijing's largest export destination, seeing a surge of over 52 percent to $81.7 billion in September.

Despite these robust headline figures, the broader economic outlook for the country remains fraught with challenges, including a declining population, a deflating property market, and chronically weak domestic consumption. According to the International Monetary Fund, China's growth is projected to slow to 4.5 percent, marking the weakest expansion since 1990 outside of pandemic-era distortions.

Source: www.aljazeera.com