Economy: China’s foreign trade breaks surprisingly strong one – ZEIT ONLINE

China’s foreign trade in the first month of the new year declined more than expected. As the customs authorities in Beijing announced on Monday that exports decreased compared to January of the previous year by 6.6 percent to 1.14 trillion yuan (155 billion euros). After exports had recovered the first time in December in months, analysts had only expected a decline of 3.6 percent. Imports also remained a decline of 14.4 percent to 737.5 billion yuan (100.14 billion euros) fell short of expectations. The trade surplus, ie the difference between exports and imports, rose to 406.2 billion yuan (55.16 billion euros).

The numbers are a new sign that the second largest economy in the world is weakening economically. The export figures reflect a lower demand for supplies of manufactured goods again, while the global economic recovery preceded haltingly.

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China’s stock exchanges, went after a week break because of Chinese New Year on Monday also initially downward. Economists are waiting with their analyzes of the economic situation in China, however, usually until figures for February are available. The reason for this is the time when the Chinese New Year, which can distort the data at the beginning.

The exchanges in Shenzhen and Shanghai recorded fresh losses due to the New Year celebrations on Monday. Other venues in the Far East, especially the Tokyo Stock Exchange, launched after a turbulent week with gains that can not, however, compensate for the losses of the previous week.