China's exports grew at a faster-than-expected pace in May, increasing 19.4 percent year-on-year despite disruptions linked to the Iran war, according to data released Tuesday by the country's customs authority.
The May figure marked an acceleration from April’s 14.1 percent annual growth rate, underscoring the resilience of China's export sector.
Analysts attributed the strong performance to continued overseas demand for Chinese automobiles, technology products and artificial intelligence-related goods, including semiconductors.
Imports also posted robust growth, rising 27.4 percent in May from a year earlier, compared with a 25.3 percent increase recorded in April.
Meanwhile, trade with the United States continued to weaken amid ongoing tariff tensions. China's exports to the U.S. declined 2.7 percent during the January-May period compared with the same period last year, while imports from the U.S. fell 5.5 percent.
The decline in bilateral trade extends a trend that began after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed broad tariffs on China and several other major trading partners following his return to office.
Despite geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts, China's overall trade performance remained strong during the first five months of the year, supported by growth in high-tech and manufacturing exports.