Economics

China Trade Surplus Surges to Record as Medical Exports Jump

  • Lower commodity prices weigh on imports as volumes hold up
  • Exports resilient as industrial output continues to recover
Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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China’s trade surplus surged to a record in May as exports fell less than expected, helped by an increase in medical-related sales, and imports slumped along with commodity prices.

Exports decreased 3.3% in dollar terms from a year earlier, beating economists’ estimates, while imports plunged 16.7%. That resulted in a trade surplus of $62.93 billion.