China’s June exports growth cools, Reuters poll

China’s exports are forecast to have risen 18.2% year-on-year in dollar terms, down from 19.4% in May, reports Reuters citing a poll of 20 economists. This comes as companies accelerated shipments to the US ahead of possible new ​tariffs, rode the AI boom, and competed aggressively on prices to win over cost-conscious consumers.

Global AI investment is providing a critical buffer for China’s $20 trillion economy, helping manufacturers withstand mounting ​pressures from Middle East conflict-related disruptions and a prolonged property downturn.

Imports are expected to have risen ​24% year-on-year, slowing from 27.4%, with South Korea’s export figures—a proxy for Chinese ⁠imports—suggesting demand was driven by purchases of semiconductors and other components for technology products rather than a ​wider recovery in domestic demand.