China’s exports and imports grew at their slowest pace in more than two years in December as foreign and domestic demand ebbed, reports Reuters. Annual exports grew 13.4 per cent in December, just below the 13.5 per cent forecast in a Reuters poll of 23 economists and the slackest pace of expansion since November 2009 — excluding the volatile month of February last year when the Lunar New Year holiday disrupted activity. Growth in imports slowed to a 26-month low of 11.8 per cent, well below the 17 per cent forecast. Bloomberg‘s survey of 21 economists had export growth bang on at 13.4 per cent, and import growth even higher than the real figure at 18 per cent. The December trade data was a key link in a series of activity indicators to be published by China over the next two weeks, including fourth-quarter gross domestic product that is likely to show the world’s second-largest economy suffering its worst quarter in two years. The data raised hopes of further easing measures from the central government, spurring a rally in Chinese shares, says the FT.

This entry was posted by Kate Mackenzie on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 at 4:16 and is featured in The 6am Cut London (10 Jan 2012) . Tagged with china, Chinese trade. Edit this entry.