Chinese exports surge as global demand recovers from virus

Police officers use sniffer dogs to check on Tiananmen Square before the opening session of China’s National People’s Congress on Friday. China’s exports surged more than 60% in the first two months of the year compared with the same period of last year (Ng Han Guan/AP)

China’s exports surged 60.6% year-on-year in the first two months of 2021 after factories reopened and global demand started to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Exports rose to 468.9 billion dollars (£339 billion), according to customs data released on Sunday, accelerating from December’s 18.1% gain and nearly double the growth expected by forecasters. Imports jumped 22.2% to 365.6 billion dollars (£264 billion), up from December’s 6.5% increase.