China exports up as trade with Russia surges

Chinese exports in January and February rose a combined 16.3 per cent on surging global demand and a spike in trade with Russia in the run-up to the war in Ukraine, according to customs data released on Monday.

The growth rate exceeded economists' expectations of a 15.7 per cent gain from a year earlier.

Shipments from the world's second-largest economy were valued at $544.7 billion in the first two months, the data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

Exports to Russia rose 41 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year.

Trade data for January and February is usually combined to even out the impact of the extended Chinese new year holiday, which usually begins in one of those two months.

Imports rose 15.5 per cent to $428.75 billion in the first two months of the year, leaving a Chinese trade surplus of $115.95 billion.