π¨New Chinese data this morning shows overall trade with the EU grew just 0.4% in 2024
Chinese exports to the EU up 3% vs 2023
Chinese imports from the EU down 4.4%
China's annual imports from:
Germany -10.7%
Netherlands +11.2% (ASML chip making kit)
France -5.9%
Italy -3.2%
Chinese exports to the EU up 3% vs 2023
Chinese imports from the EU down 4.4%
China's annual imports from:
Germany -10.7%
Netherlands +11.2% (ASML chip making kit)
France -5.9%
Italy -3.2%
Comments
That's close to β¬300bn (β¬293.8bn) and is up 12.58% from 2023.
This will help fuel more talk of Chinese overcapacity
Chart uses Eurostat numbers
https://soapboxtrade.substack.com/p/eu-member-states-projected-to-reach
Politically, probably *not* a great msg for China to send to the world as 2025 begins
Led by all-time high exports of integrated circuits and cars
Coming a week before Trump's inauguration, a US$1tn surplus feels significant. We will hear that number a lot
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3294472/china-trade-surplus-reaches-record-high-surge-pre-trump-exports
China's trading partners announced a total of 160 trade investigations into made-in-China products in 2024
Up 132% from 2023, per my colleague Mia's calculations based on data from China Trade Remedies Information, a platform under Mofcom.
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3294204/china-hit-record-trade-barriers-2024-overcapacity-fears-spread-developing-world
Expect this tension to accelerate in 2025.