China’s Export Engine in High Gear Floods the World With Stuff

Vessels loaded with shipping containers are docked at the Yangshan Deepwater Port in this aerial photograph taken in Shanghai, China, on Sunday, July 12, 2020. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday a phase two trade deal with China isn't under consideration, saying the relationship between Washington and Beijing has deteriorated too much.Photographer: Bloomberg/Bloomberg

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January 14, 2021 at 12:00 PM UTC

China’s export boom headed into the new year on a tear and all indications are that it may continue for several more months.

Consider this: Chinese factories exported 224 billion masks from March through December, or almost 40 for every man, woman and child on the planet outside of China, Li Kuiwen, an official from the General Administration of Customs, told reporters Thursday. The shipments were worth 340 billion yuan ($53 billion), which is about 2% of all Chinese exports in 2020.