Trade: China December exports fall to record low

Geely cars to be exported enter a cargo vessel at Ningbo Zhoushan port in Zhejiang province, China. [Photo: Reuters]

Chinese exports saw the steepest fall for two years in December, according to the latest trade figures.

Exports from China fell 4.4 per cent last month compared with the year before, while imports fell 7.6 per cent.

The figures indicate a further weakening in the strength of the world’s second biggest economy and sent Asian stock markets lower on Monday.

Other data released on Monday showed the country’s trade surplus with the US reached a record high in 2018.