SIMIC

As the world's second-largest economy recovers from the coronavrius pandemic, China's trade growth accelerated in September with imports gaining 13.2 per cent to $202.8 billion, up from the previous month's 2.1 per cent contraction, according to customs data.

Exporters have benefited from China's relatively early reopening from its shutdown to fight the virus and from global demand for masks and medical supplies. They are taking market share from foreign competitors that are hampered by anti-disease controls.

"Renewed virus outbreaks in trading partners will be a challenge, but shipments of products benefiting from virus-related demand should continue to hold up," said Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics in a report.

China's global trade surplus swelled 6.6 per cent over a year earlier to $37 billion but was down sharply from August's $58.9 billion gap.

Exports to the United States rose 20.5 per cent over a year ago to $44 billion despite higher US tariffs in a fight with the Trump administration over Beijing's technology ambitions and trade surplus. Imports of American goods rose 24.5 per cent to $13.2 billion, reports Associated Press.

China became the first major economy to rebound to pre-virus growth levels in the second quarter of the year. The government reported 3.2 per cent economic growth over a year earlier.

Automakers and other large manufacturers are back to normal activity, helping to drive demand for imported iron ore, copper and other industrial materials.

Importers have benefited from a slump in prices of oil and other commodities due to weak demand.

Retail sales are weaker as consumers who are uneasy about possible job losses put off major purchases. Consumer spending returned to pre-virus levels in August but was only 0.5 per cent above a year earlier.

Economists have warned some Chinese exporters of smartphones and other high-tech goods might face trouble due to restrictions imposed by Washington on their access to US components on security grounds.

Washington has cut off supplies of components for companies including China's most prominent tech brand, Huawei Technologies Ltd.