China Macroeconomics & Academia

Christopher Balding

Macroeconomics

<p>The jump in Chinese December trade data is due primarily to the base effect from a very weak December 2018.  There are however interesting notes.  Agricultural products, soybean, and iron ore imports are all up strongly. This seems more likely linked to domestic needs rather than any shift in underlying economic activity, but given credit activity and Beijing desire to jump start growth, iron and steel activity especially will be something to watch in early 2020.</p>

The jump in Chinese December trade data is due primarily to the base effect from a very weak December 2018.  There are however interesting notes.  Agricultural products, soybean, and iron ore imports are all up strongly. This seems more likely linked to domestic needs rather than any shift in underlying economic activity, but given credit activity and Beijing desire to jump start growth, iron and steel activity especially will be something to watch in early 2020.

Chinese Trade Data Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be