Investing.com - China on Monday said exports rose 8.0% in April year-on-year, below the 10.4% gain seen, while imports rose 11.9% also below the 18.0% gain expected for a trade balance surplus of $38.05 billion, wider than the $35.50 billion seen.
Julian Evans-Pritchard, China economist at Capital Economics, said softer domestic demand is weighing on imports into the country and that will continue to face headwinds. But external demand appears strong and that should help China's exports, he added.
"Looking ahead, we expect export growth to hold up well given the relatively bright outlook for the global economy this year. Growth in inbound shipments will continue to face headwinds, however. In particular, policy tightening will further weigh on domestic demand in coming quarters, with the impact on import values amplified by declines in commodity prices," he said in a note to clients.