China’s Exports Jump on Strong AI Trade

China’s exports rose 35.2% in October from a year earlier, beating forecasts as AI-related shipments sustained rapid growth despite a sharp slowdown in car exports, according to customs data released Tuesday.

Exports totaled $412.3 billion, with growth slowing by 1.1 percentage points from September, the data showed. Imports rose 41.6% to $307.1 billion, accelerating by 10.6 percentage points and exceeding the upper end of market forecasts. A Caixin survey of 11 domestic and international institutions had put the average forecast for export growth at 33.6% and import growth at 31.6%.

The figures highlight the growing role of AI-related trade in China’s exports, though much of the growth continued to be driven by rising prices rather than shipment volumes.