High-tech exports surge while consumer goods remain weak
Booming demand for AI hardware offset disruptions from the war in Iran. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
China's exports soared over 19% year-on-year, the fastest in three months, while imports surged as demand for foreign chips and equipment fueled AI-driven trade expansion.
China's May exports hit a record $376.78 billion with a 19.4% surge, driven by front-loaded orders and a 111% spike in chip shipments. Here's what it means
China's May exports grew 19.4% YoY, with IC sales surging 111% as AI data center demand lifts memory costs 20% monthly. Weakening orders and falling inventories suggest the AI chip cycle is peaking, shifting data center capex and semiconductor sourcing for 2026.
The global AI infrastructure build-out has emerged as a key driver of Asian trade despite a global energy crisis stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.
High-tech exports rise sharply as car shipments jump 39 percent
China's exports surged to $105 billion in May, driven by AI demand, despite rising geopolitical risks impacting global trade.