China's exports rose for the first time in five months Online Cigarettes Store USA in December and by more than expected, signalling a modest recovery in demand as Beijing and Washington agreed to defuse their prolonged trade war.
The world's largest economies are set to sign a Phase 1 trade deal on Wednesday, marking a significant de-escalation but not an end to a dispute that has rattled financial markets and threatened to derail global economic growth.
After a rough year, China's exports ended 2019 on an upbeat note, rising 7.6% in December from a year earlier, customs Newport Cigarettes Shop data showed on Tuesday. The median forecast from a Reuters poll of analysts had been for a 3.2% rise in shipments, following November's 1.3% drop.
Imports also beat expectations, jumping 16.3% from a year earlier, though boosted in part by higher commodity prices. The Reuters poll had forecast 9.6% growth versus 0.5% in November.
While comparisons with a weak December last year flattered both figures, they also pointed to improving demand, Cheap Newport 100s cigarettes both globally and within China, analysts said.
China posted a trade surplus of $46.79 billion in December, compared with the poll's forecast for a $48 billion surplus and up from November's surplus of $37.93 billion.