China’s April Exports Rebound as Trade Surplus With U.S. Widens

China recorded faster export growth in April as factories rushed to meet demand from AI-related industries and buyers stockpiling components amid fears that the Iran war could push global input costs even higher, Joe Cash and Lewis Jackson reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Shipping containers are stacked at a Chinese port as exports rebound amid strong AI-related demand.

The export surge has widened China’s trade surplus with the US to $87.7 billion so far this year and is expected to be a key issue during President Donald Trump’s upcoming summit in Beijing aimed at extending last year’s trade truce.

While Chinese exporters have so far weathered the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, economists warn that prolonged war and rising energy prices could weaken global demand, leaving China’s sluggish domestic consumption unable to compensate.

Analysts are also closely monitoring the pace of the AI manufacturing boom and whether shipments of semiconductor-related equipment can continue supporting Chinese exports.

“The conflict in the Middle East pushed up demand for global manufacturing inventory replenishment, and under the upward cycle of semiconductors, imports and exports maintained momentum,” said Xing Zhaopeng, senior China strategist at ANZ.