Export growth of China slowed in the January-February period due to week long closure amid New Year holidays and as Ukraine-Russia war poses greater risks.
Outbound shipments rose 16.3% in the first two months of the year from the same period a year earlier, official data showed on Monday.
Imports increased 15.5%, easing from a 19.5% gain in December. That compared with a 16.5% increase forecast in a Reuters poll.
China posted a trade surplus of $115.95 billion in the same period, versus a forecast $99.50 billion surplus in the poll. That compared with December’s $94.46 billion surplus.
China has targeted slower economic growth of around 5.5% this year amid an uncertain global recovery and a downturn in the country’s vast property sector.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine late last month and mounting international sanctions on Moscow have raised fresh risks for the global economy, adding to months-long strains for China’s factories from worldwide supply chain snags.
