HONG KONG — China’s exports accelerated in May, rising 19.4% from a year earlier, the General Administration of Customs said Tuesday, as robust shipments of technology goods and automobiles continued to drive growth despite disruptions from the Iran war.
The May figure marked an improvement over April’s 14.1% year-on-year increase. Imports also gained pace, climbing 27.4% compared with 25.3% in April.
Exports to the United States surged more than 35% in May from the year before — the strongest pace since early 2021 — following an 11% increase in April. Chinese shipments to the U.S. had fallen sharply for most of the months since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, as exporters diverted goods to Southeast Asia and Europe.
The strength in exports has been supported by autos and technology and artificial intelligence-related products such as semiconductors and computing equipment, the customs agency said.
China’s export machine has been a key pillar of the economy, helping to offset sluggish domestic demand. The country’s economy grew 5% in the first quarter of 2026, largely buoyed by trade, as MSI has reported.