China's export slowdown in July may signal more bumps ahead | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
July 21, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, JULY 21, 2025
China's export slowdown in July may signal more bumps ahead

Global Economy

Reuters
07 August, 2021, 01:00 pm
Last modified: 07 August, 2021, 01:04 pm

Related News

  • 21 July 2024: At least 19 killed; SC scraps quota reinstatement ruling
  • Bangladesh delegation visits China to promote investment opportunities
  • 20 July 2024: At least 37 killed amid curfew; Key coordinator Nahid Islam detained
  • Curfews, block raids, and internet blackouts: Hasina’s last ditch efforts to cling to power
  • The Vietnamese economic miracle: What lessons does it offer for others?

China's export slowdown in July may signal more bumps ahead

Seasonal floods and bad weather last month also affected industrial production in some areas such as central China

Reuters
07 August, 2021, 01:00 pm
Last modified: 07 August, 2021, 01:04 pm
A worker drives a truck carrying a container at a logistics center near Tianjin port, in Tianjin, China December 12, 2019. Photo : Reuters
A worker drives a truck carrying a container at a logistics center near Tianjin port, in Tianjin, China December 12, 2019. Photo : Reuters

China's export growth unexpectedly slowed in July following outbreaks of Covid-19 cases, while imports also lost momentum, pointing to a slowdown in the country's industrial sector in the second half even as easing global lockdowns boost commerce.

The world's biggest exporter has staged an impressive economic rebound from a coronavirus-induced slump in the first few months of last year after quickly containing the pandemic, and its rapid vaccination rollout has helped drive confidence.

But new infections in July, mainly caused by the highly transmissible Delta strain have spread to tens of Chinese cities, prompting local authorities to lock down affected communities, order millions to be tested and temporarily suspend operations of some businesses, including factories.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Seasonal floods and bad weather last month also affected industrial production in some areas such as central China.

Exports in July rose 19.3% from a year earlier, compared with a 32.2% gain in June. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a gain of 20.8%.

"China's exports remained strong in June. The pandemic worsened in other Asian developing countries, which may have led to a relocation of trade toward China. But leading indicators suggest exports may weaken in coming months," said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 cases in eastern and southern Chinese provinces, the country's main export hubs, had crimped factory output.

Aside from the drag from efforts to counter the spread of the Delta variant, Chinese exporters also struggled with an ongoing global semiconductor shortage, logistics bottlenecks, and higher raw material and freight costs.

"Although orders are recovering, there are too many uncertainties in the second half of the year, like how the domestic epidemic develops and the cost of raw materials. And at the same time, foreign production capacity is slowly picking up," said an exports sales manager based in Suzhou surnamed Ye.

Imports in July rose a slower 28.1% from a year earlier, lagging a 33% increase forecast in the Reuters poll, and 36.7% growth the previous month. Demand has dropped in recent months for iron ore, a key ingredient in steelmaking.

China's factory activity expanded at a slower pace in July due to higher raw material costs, equipment maintenance and extreme weather.

The slower Chinese shipments also reflected the moderation in U.S. business in July amid supply constraints, suggesting a cooling in the world's biggest economy after what was expected to have been a robust second quarter.

China posted a trade surplus of $56.58 billion in July, compared with the poll's forecast for a $51.54 billion surplus and $51.53 billion surplus in June.

Its trade surplus with the United States rose to $35.4 billion, Reuters calculations based on customs data showed, up from $32.58 billion in June.

The economy is on track to grow more than 8% this year but analysts say pent-up coronavirus demand has peaked and forecast that growth rates are starting to moderate. 

Top News / World+Biz

China / Economy / July

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • TBS Illustration
    US tariff: Dhaka open to trade concessions but set to reject non-trade conditions
  • Representational image. Photo: TBS
    High US dependence may bring over 250 RMGs to edge as high tariff looms 
  • Photo: Collected
    BNP alleges arrests, harassment of innocent civilians in Gopalganj's Kotalipara

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaz Uddin
    Ctg port to deliver 16 more products via private depots to ease congestion
  • A roundtable titled ‘US Reciprocal Tariff: Which Way for Bangladesh?’, held at a hotel in Dhaka on 20 July 2025, organised by Prothom Alo. Photo: TBS
    Things don’t look good for Bangladesh: US brands warn exporters amid tariff hike
  • Infograph: TBS
    Liquidation of troubled NBFIs may cost govt Tk12,000cr in taxpayer money
  • File Photo: Debapriya Bhattacharya, head of the White Paper Committee, speaks at a press conference at the planning ministry in Dhaka on Monday, 2 December, 2024. Photo: Collected
    Govt’s NDA signing a first of its kind in Bangladesh’s history: Debapriya on US tariff talks
  • Infograph: TBS
    Dhaka to seek G2G coal import, investment in solar plants during CA’s visit to Jakarta
  • On behalf of the Bangladesh government, Director General of the Directorate General of Food Md Abul Hasanath Humayun Kabir signed the MoU, while Vice President of US Wheat Associates Joseph K Sowers signed on behalf of the United States. Photo: Courtesy
    Bangladesh signs MoU to import 7 lakh tonnes of wheat annually from US for 5 years

Related News

  • 21 July 2024: At least 19 killed; SC scraps quota reinstatement ruling
  • Bangladesh delegation visits China to promote investment opportunities
  • 20 July 2024: At least 37 killed amid curfew; Key coordinator Nahid Islam detained
  • Curfews, block raids, and internet blackouts: Hasina’s last ditch efforts to cling to power
  • The Vietnamese economic miracle: What lessons does it offer for others?

Features

Despite all the adversities, girls from the hill districts are consistently pushing the boundaries to earn repute and make the nation proud. Photos: TBS

Despite poor accommodation, Ghagra’s women footballers bring home laurels

8h | Panorama
Photos: Collected

Water-resistant footwear: A splash of style in every step

10h | Brands
Tottho Apas have been protesting in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka for months, with no headway in sight. Photo: Mehedi Hasan

From empowerment to exclusion: The crisis facing Bangladesh’s Tottho Apas

1d | Panorama
The main points of clashes were in Jatrabari, Uttara, Badda, and Mirpur. Violence was also reported in Mohammadpur. Photo: TBS

20 July 2024: At least 37 killed amid curfew; Key coordinator Nahid Islam detained

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Hasina government's close associates are giving up ownership of property in the UK

Hasina government's close associates are giving up ownership of property in the UK

6h | Others
Sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan's death marks the end of a colorful life

Sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan's death marks the end of a colorful life

6h | Others
News of The Day, 20 JULY 2025

News of The Day, 20 JULY 2025

7h | TBS News of the day
Are good relations being developed between political parties?

Are good relations being developed between political parties?

6h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net