China’s Exports to the U.S. Drop 21% in April, Despite a Sur surge in Overall Shipments Exceeding Projections

A China Shipping cargo container sits stacked at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California on April 10, 2025. Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty Images

China’s exports surged in April even as shipments to the U.S. plunged, with businesses facing the impact of significant U.S. tariffs imposed the previous month. Imports saw a smaller decline as Beijing intensified its stimulus efforts.

Exports jumped 8.1% last month in U.S. dollar terms compared to a year earlier, according to data released by the customs authority on Friday, significantly surpassing media forecasts of a 1.9% increase.

In contrast, imports fell by 0.2% in April from a year earlier, compared to economists’ predictions of a 5.9% drop. China’s outbound shipments to the U.S. dropped over 21% year-on-year in April, while imports fell nearly 14%, according to official figures.

The overall surge in exports may be partly attributed to transshipment through third countries and contracts signed before the tariffs were announced, Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, noted. He expects trade data to gradually weaken in the coming months.

In March, shipments from China had recorded a 12.4% year-on-year growth, as businesses hurried to export goods to evade higher tariffs. However, imports experienced a more significant than expected decline of 4.3% from a year earlier, highlighting Beijing’s ongoing challenge to stimulate domestic demand.

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs of 145% on all imports from China, which led to a retaliatory tariff of 125% on American goods. Both nations have attempted to mitigate the economic effects of these high tariffs by granting exemptions on various critical products.

The number of container vessels traveling from China to the U.S. saw a dramatic decrease towards the end of April, Raymond Yeung, chief economist for Greater China at ANZ Bank, reported on Thursday. The Chinese government has also been encouraging exporters to redirect sales towards the domestic market, a move that could further plunge the economy into deeper deflation.

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