China trade surges as demand in US, other markets rebounds

Beijing: China's exports surged nearly 28 per cent in May while imports jumped 51 per cent as demand rebounded in the United States and other markets where the pandemic is waning, though growth is leveling off after a stunning recovery from last year's slump.

China has led the global recovery from the pandemic, which is still raging in many parts of the globe but receding in places where vaccinations have been widely deployed.

Customs data released Monday showed total exports climbed 40 per cent in the first five months of the year from a year earlier. They were up 29 per cent from the same period in 2019.

The boost from last year's slump is fading, however, and the 263.9 billion in Chinese exports in May was about level with the previous month. China's imports of 218.4 billion in May were 1.2 per cent lower than in April.

China's trade surplus in May was 45.53 billion, down 26.5 per cent from a year earlier.