China has reported its exports rose nearly 22% in the first two months of the year, while trade with the United States contracted
ByCHAN HO-HIM AP business writer
HONG KONG — China’s exports rose nearly 22% in the first two months of the year from a year earlier, as its trade with countries other than the United States expanded.
The export figures released by China’s customs agency on Tuesday were much better than economists had forecast. They far exceeded the 6.6% annual pace of growth recorded in December.
Imports in January and February rose almost 20%, up from December’s 5.7% year-on-year increase. However, China’s imports from the United States dropped nearly 27% from a year earlier.
China’s exports have been a bright spot for its economy despite tensions with the U.S. China’s exports climbed 5.5% for 2025 as its trade surplus surged to a record of nearly $1.2 trillion. Higher shipments to other regions including Europe and Latin America helped offset a 20% drop in exports to the U.S. as U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a variety of higher tariffs on imports from much of the world.
China’s global trade surplus in January-February was $213.6 billion. Trade data is typically combined for January to February each year to help even out seasonal impacts from the Lunar New Year festival, the biggest holiday of the year.
A slowing domestic economy fueled by a yearslong property sector downturn has been weighing on