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Economic Indicators

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US-China trade war
US-ally trade wars
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
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China released its figures for industrial output in April, a period when tariffs from the US were at their highest. Photo: AFP
China manufacturing

China’s manufacturing resilient in April despite US tariffs; consumption softens

China’s industrial output rose 6.1 per cent, beating estimates, while domestic consumption up 5.1 per cent – slightly below expectations.

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China deflation

China’s consumer prices fall in April, fuelling fears of deflation

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China jobs

China could miss jobs target amid trade war, property sector trouble: analysts

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China exports

‘Surprise’: Chinese exports resilient in April despite US tariffs

Despite a drop in shipments to the US, China’s 8.1 per cent monthly increase in exports beat market expectations handily.

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Wind power equipment destined for export in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on April 27. Photo: Xinhua
Wind power equipment destined for export in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on April 27. Photo: Xinhua
China trade

China’s biggest trade fair breaks records despite US tariffs

Canton Fair’s strong overseas attendance figures surprised exhibitors and analysts, but transaction volume failed to beat pre-pandemic heights.

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US-China trade war

First blood? Trump’s trade war starts to bite as China’s cargo shipments slump

US tariffs are beginning to take a toll – but some analysts believe Beijing could still achieve 5 per cent GDP target.

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China manufacturing

China’s factory activity contracts as tariffs darken trade landscape

China’s purchasing managers’ index for April comes in at 49, falling short of expectations as US tariffs begin to bite.

China’s manufacturers have been forced to navigate a challenging trade environment after the imposition of steep tariffs by the US. Photo: AFP
China’s manufacturers have been forced to navigate a challenging trade environment after the imposition of steep tariffs by the US. Photo: AFP
China GDP

Shenzhen lags China in GDP, exports as tech hub preps for tariff wave

The southern metropolis failed to beat the national average, even as exporters locked in early orders to get ahead of US tariffs.

China's population

More Chinese leave the knot untied as marriage registrations drop

Marriages saw a year-on-year fall of 8 per cent in China for the first quarter of 2025 – a worrying sign as demographic decline continues.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese carmakers put brakes on self-driving hype at Shanghai show

‘Safety’ is the big buzzword as firms adjust tone amid Beijing’s closer scrutiny after a fatal crash involving a driver-assistance system.

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Visitors walk in front of the Geely booth during the Shanghai auto show on April 23, 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE
Banking & finance

China’s wealthy are hoarding cash amid an uncertain economy, survey finds

Chinese high-net-worth investors are wary of taking risks during a period of intense turbulence.

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China’s high-net-worth investors are parking their money in cash and near-cash products amid a period of economic turbulence, according to a new report. Photo: Reuters
China’s high-net-worth investors are parking their money in cash and near-cash products amid a period of economic turbulence, according to a new report. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

China’s critical metal exports plummet as trade war curbs take effect

Shipments of several critical minerals have halted entirely, putting the US tech sector under pressure.

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China trade

China’s container bookings to plunge up to 60% as US tariffs wipe out trade

But shipping traffic in the rest of Asia is bouncing back as traders rush to take advantage of US ‘reciprocal’ tariff pause.

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China GDP

China’s economy grows 5.4% in first quarter ahead of full-blown US trade war

The country’s GDP growth beat expectations to March, but worries persist about the looming impact of the US trade conflict.

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China’s economy expanded by 5.4 per cent in the first quarter. Photo: AFP
China GDP

‘Open door red’ to ‘summer blue’: will second quarter slam China’s GDP again?

Recent years have seen China’s economic growth decelerate in the second quarter – a pattern that threatens to continue this summer amid an intensifying trade war.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China exports

‘Final hurrah’: China’s exports up 12.4% in March amid pre-tariff rush

Trade figures reflect resilience of export machine and rapid reorientation of shipments as uncertainty swirls over eventual scope and impact of tariffs.

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China inflation

China’s consumer prices fall in March as trade war reaches fever pitch

China’s consumer prices declined 0.1 per cent at a decisive moment in protracted trade conflict with US.

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China’s economic stimulus

‘I’m not attracted’: why China is struggling to convince consumers to borrow

Beijing is offering easier access to credit in a bid to boost consumption, but households are reluctant to take on debt amid a global trade war.

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China has introduced a slew of measures in recent months to encourage consumers to open their wallets, but many households remain reluctant to spend amid an economic slowdown. Photo: EPA-EFE
China has introduced a slew of measures in recent months to encourage consumers to open their wallets, but many households remain reluctant to spend amid an economic slowdown. Photo: EPA-EFE
China's economic recovery

Fitch cuts China rating on weakening finances, debt concerns

China’s Ministry of Finance reacted strongly, describing the decision to downgrade from “A+” to “A” as biased and not reflective of reality.

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Yuan

China battles to stabilise yuan after Trump’s tariffs spark market upheaval

China’s central bank set the currency’s fixing rate at its lowest level since January, as regulators warned of market volatility.

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Made in China 2025

Stay humble? China ranks itself 10th in new global innovation league table

But China has risen up the rankings faster than any other nation over the past 12 years, according to the report.

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China ranked 10th in a new global innovation league table produced by an official research body in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua
China manufacturing

China’s factory activity speeds up on export boost, Caixin PMI shows

But China’s macroeconomic policies must be ‘more proactive and decisive’, with immediate implementations, to support a recovery, economist says.

A worker welds at a steel-processing factory on Saturday. China’s factory activity showed signs of speeding up in March. Photo: Xinhua
A worker welds at a steel-processing factory on Saturday. China’s factory activity showed signs of speeding up in March. Photo: Xinhua
China's economic recovery

China’s factory activity accelerates in March even as US ramps up tariffs

China’s manufacturing activity hit a 12-month high as Beijing introduced a slew of measures to boost the economy.

China's economic recovery

China’s industrial profits unexpectedly fall in ominous sign for economy

Economists had predicted China’s industrial firms would record robust profit growth in the first two months of the year.

China GDP

What tariffs? Another China GDP forecast rises on fast start, capital outlays

Morgan Stanley joins others in growing more bullish on China’s economy for the year, but US tariffs seen biting amid ‘supply-chain rewiring’.

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Engineers debug a humanoid robot at a technology company in China’s Hubei province last month. Beijing is hanging some hopes for GDP growth on technological advancements. Photo: Xinhua
China Future Tech
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
China Future Tech

Tech Trends

Huawei, UBTech team up to bring humanoid robots to factories and homes

UBTech’s Walker robot seen at the company’s offices in Shenzhen. Photo: Edmond So

China Economy

Buy local: China directs state bodies to buy more home-made EVs for official use

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New energy vehicles at Changan Automobile’s vehicle distribution center in Chongqing, China, November 17, 2024. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Big Tech

Xiaomi now one of China’s biggest semiconductor investors, founder Lei Jun says

Xiaomi is sharpening its focus on semiconductor development in China. Photo: Shutterstock

Big Tech

Ant Group’s global unit pulls in US$3 billion in revenue ahead of spin-off

The Ant Group logo seen inside the fintech company’s headquarters in Hangzhou, capital of eastern Zhejiang province. Photo: Reuters

Big Tech

Nvidia’s Huang teases new Taiwan office, supercomputer plans in Computex speech

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Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang delivers a keynote speech for Computex 2025 in Taipei on May 19. Photo: AFP
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