The rapid upswing in China continues. The country’s foreign trade also grew strongly in March. Economies around the world are benefiting from the trend – and German industry in particular.
The export business of Chinese companies experienced a strong boost in March. The increase was 30.6 percent compared to the previous year, as the statistics office in Beijing announced. That is a little less than experts had forecast. By contrast, imports climbed 38.1 percent faster than expected. Overall foreign trade increased by 34.2 percent in March – the ninth consecutive month of growth. For the entire first quarter, this results in an increase in exports of 49 percent. Imports increased by 28 percent. Regarding the growth rates, however, it should be taken into account that the previous year’s level was very low due to the Corona crisis. In addition, the pace of growth is slowing compared to the first two months of the year.
“A positive signal”
Nonetheless, experts are optimistic: “The strong foreign demand is likely to continue in the second quarter as the global economy continues to recover,” said economist Nie Wen of the Hwabao Trust. “But as global vaccination efforts accelerate, industries in other countries will gradually start up again.” The numbers are “a positive signal that global economic and trade activity is recovering and market confidence is growing,” said a spokesman for the customs office, Li Kuiwen. However, he warned that the global economic situation remained complex and serious.
Engine of the world economy
But the world economy is benefiting from the buoyant economic recovery in China. According to the customs authorities, imports from Germany rose by 28.4 percent in the first quarter. China delivered 60.5 percent more goods to Germany. Experts see the demand from the Chinese economy as a major reason for the relative robustness of German industry in recent weeks. Trade with the US is also flourishing. Despite the trade war and punitive tariffs, Chinese exports to the USA rose by as much as 74.7 percent in the first three months of the year. Imports from the USA increased by 69.2 percent. Germany is back in growth The world’s second largest economy after the USA will grow by a strong 7.8 percent this year, according to a forecast by the industrialized nations organization OECD, after being the only large country to grow in 2020 despite the corona crisis. For comparison: The Federal Reserve is forecasting economic growth in the US of 6.5 percent for the current year. Optimism is growing: in December, the Fed had only expected an increase of 4.2 percent. The federal government is currently forecasting an increase of only three percent. A few weeks ago, important economic institutes in Germany revised their forecasts downwards in view of the corona situation. On Monday, the three major industrial associations in Germany expressed their cautious optimism about the economic development. As a result of strong Chinese economic data, oil prices are rising today as China is one of the largest oil importers in the world. The prospects for a global economic recovery could also prove to be a driver for prices on the commodity markets in the future. That, in turn, could cause inflation rates to rise, as experts keep saying.
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