Friday, 17 August 2012

The Dragon catching its breath


China's export and import growth slowed for the second straight month in July, raising fears about the strength of the world's second-largest economy.

Exports rose by 1% from a year earlier, down from 11.3% growth in June, amid slowing demand from key markets.

Meanwhile, imports rose by 4.7% compared with 6.3% in June, indicating that domestic demand was also slowing.

Analysts said the data was weaker-than-expected and may see Beijing introduce stimulus measures to spur growth.

"Trade data has come in dramatically below expectations - the worst export growth number (excluding Chinese New Year) since November 2009 - highlighting the risk that the external environment poses to an economy in the midst of a rapid internal slowdown," said analysts in Beijing.

"The government is likely to respond by ramping-up its stimulus efforts, with both monetary and fiscal guns firing."

European markets are crucially important to China but with European economies in a fragile state the implication for Export growth is obvious and the potential for the euro debt crisis to spread would result in a further decline in export growth in the months ahead.


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