China's Exports Post 2.5 Percent Surge in March

(MENAFN) China's trade figures for March revealed a striking imbalance, with exports edging up just 2.5% year-on-year while imports surged 27.8% — a jump analysts attribute largely to elevated energy and raw material costs fueled by ongoing Middle East tensions.

The latest import reading continues an accelerating trend: figures from the General Administration of Customs show imports climbed 1.9% in December, 5.7% in January, and 19.8% in February before the sharp March spike.

Zooming out, China's overall foreign trade volume expanded 15% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring the country's sustained trade momentum despite global headwinds. Exports for the quarter rose 11.9% compared to the same period last year, while imports climbed 19.6%, the customs data showed.

The widening gap between import and export growth signals mounting cost pressures on Chinese industry, as geopolitical instability continues to push up the price of essential commodities flowing into the world's second-largest economy.

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