China's December trade data shows unexpected growth in imports and exports

China's trade data for December showed unexpected growth. Exports rose 10.7% year-on-year, surpassing the 7.3% forecast. This follows a 6.7% increase in November. Imports also increased by 1.0%, reversing previous declines. Last year, total exports grew 7.1%, up from 0.6% in 2023. Imports rose 2.3%, recovering from a 0.3% drop the previous year. Analysts attribute this growth to increased fiscal spending and stimulus measures. Despite ongoing trade tensions, exports of electric vehicles and semiconductors saw significant increases of 13.1% and 18.7%, respectively. Economists expect trade to have notably contributed to China's economic growth, with GDP data set to be released soon.