China’s imports fall in April as clouds gather for economic outlook

China’s import volume posted its biggest contraction in a year last month, while exports expanded at a slower pace than expected, casting doubt over the pace of the country’s economic recovery after three years of pandemic restrictions.

Imports fell 7.9 per cent year on year in April, a far deeper decline than analysts’ expectations of a 0.2 per cent contraction, according to a Bloomberg poll. Exports in the month rose 8.5 per cent compared with a year earlier, following an unexpected jump in March and benefiting from a low base last year.