China’s October exports fall in new sign of global weakness

BEIJING — China’s exports fell again in October in a fresh sign that weak global demand is complicating efforts by Beijing leaders to shore up economic growth and reduce reliance on trade and investment.

Exports contracted by 7.3 per cent from a year earlier to $178.1 billion, an improvement from September’s 10 per cent decline, customs data showed Tuesday. Imports fell 1.4 per cent to $129.1 billion, compared with the previous month’s 1.9 per cent decline.

“Goods exports improved somewhat in October after the major setback in September, but not enough to prevent a further loss of momentum and underscoring that the recent trend toward somewhat stronger global demand growth remains fragile,” Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics said in a report.

Growth in the world’s second-largest economy held steady at 6.7 per cent in the three months ending in September, but that was the lowest quarterly level since the 2008 global crisis. Growth was shored up by consumer spending and a bank lending boom but forecasters expect it to weaken because regulators are trying to cool a surge in real estate prices and credit.