CHINA's overall trade surplus fell short of expectations for April, as exports fell and imports rose, reports CNBC.
Customs data showed that the trade surplus for April came in at US$13.84 billion, much lower than the $35 billion economists polled by Reuters had expected, and below the $32.65 billion posted in March.
Dollar-denominated exports also did not meet forecasts for April, falling 2.7 per cent from a year ago, according to data from China's General Administration of Customs. The economists polled by Reuters expected an increase of 2.3 per cent from a year earlier.
However, April imports unexpectedly rose by four per cent from a year ago, compared to a decline of 3.6 per cent that economists predicted. Imports in March fell 7.6 per cent. China's trade surplus with the US, meanwhile, rose to $21.01 billion in April from $20.5 billion in March.
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Customs data showed that the trade surplus for April came in at US$13.84 billion, much lower than the $35 billion economists polled by Reuters had expected, and below the $32.65 billion posted in March.
Dollar-denominated exports also did not meet forecasts for April, falling 2.7 per cent from a year ago, according to data from China's General Administration of Customs. The economists polled by Reuters expected an increase of 2.3 per cent from a year earlier.
However, April imports unexpectedly rose by four per cent from a year ago, compared to a decline of 3.6 per cent that economists predicted. Imports in March fell 7.6 per cent. China's trade surplus with the US, meanwhile, rose to $21.01 billion in April from $20.5 billion in March.
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