October 12, 2008

Chinese April trade surplus up by 24.4%

According to General Administration of Customs, China's trade surplus was USD 16.68 billion in April 2008 up from USD 13.4 billion in March 2008.

Exports in April 2008 rose by 21.8% YoY to USD 118.71 billion, while imports were up by 26.3% YoY to USD 102.23 billion. In the January to April 2008 period, the trade surplus was USD 58 billion as compared with USD 63.3 billion a year earlier. Exports rose by 21.5% YoY to USD 424.57 billion, while imports were up by 27.9% YoY to USD 366.57 billion.

Copper product imports dropped by 11.8% YoY to 953,113 tonnes during January to April 2008 period, while April 2008 imports totaled 246,119 tonnes. China also imported 1.72 million tonnes of alumina in the January to April 2008 period, down by 16.2% YoY while it imported 560,000 tonnes in April 2008.

China exported 14.59 million tonnes of coal in the January to April 2008 period, down by 8.1% YoY, while April 2008 exports stood at 4.39 million tonnes.

Coke exports in January to April 2008 period dropped by 16.6% YoY to 4.28 million tonnes with April 2008 exports stood at 1.34 million tonnes. China exported 16.17 million tonnes of steel products during the January to April 2008 period, down by 23.9% YoY, while April 2008 exports stood at 4.78 million tonnes.

China imported 153.49 million tonnes of iron ore in January to April 2008 period, up by 15.2% YoY, while April 2008 imports amounted to 42.85 million tonnes. Steel product imports were down by 3.7% YoY to 5.68 million tonnes with April 2008 imports at 1.5 million tonnes.