China's Exports Growth Accelerated In June Driven by AI Boom and Pre-Tariff Rush

Li Chen
14 Jul, 2026
Hong Kong

Stocks in China traded mixed amid rising geopolitical uncertainty and ahead of the release of the second-quarter economic growth estimate. 

The Hang Seng Index declined 0.8%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index declined 0.5% as investors reviewed another down day in global AI-related stocks. 

Memory chipmakers and other advanced semiconductor-related stocks faced selling pressure amid worries that prices are ahead of near-term fundamentals, and they could search for lower lows. 

Brent crude oil prices rose 1.8% to $84.72 a barrel after the U.S. and Iran stepped up military exchanges over the Strait of Hormuz. 

Commercial shipping traffic has come to a near standstill as the U.S. and Iran sent conflicting signals, and the U.S. imposed a 20% fee for safe passage through the narrow passageway. 

 

China's Exports Surge, Overcoming Global Tensions In June

China's exports and imports soared in June as foreign and domestic customers ramped up purchases amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty. 

China's exports advanced 27% to $412.4 billion, and imports expanded 36% to $286.8 billion, resulting in an increase in the trade surplus to $125.6 billion from $105.4 billion in the previous month. 

In the first half, exports increased 17.6% to $2.1 trillion and imports advanced 26.6% from a year ago, respectively, according to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs on Tuesday.   

Direct exports to the U.S. increased by 13.9%, exports to ASEAN advanced by 34.6%, and exports to the European Union expanded by 18.5%. 

The stable supplies to the Middle East, the AI boom, and the rush ahead of potential new U.S. tariffs all contributed to the sharp rise in shipments, while higher commodity prices increased the total import bill. 

Shipments of automobiles soared 53%, integrated circuits increased 7%, and LCD flat-panel modules jumped 10.7%; however, exports of rare earth decreased by 6.4%, refined products by 13.2%, and steel by 5.6%. 

 

China Indexes and Stocks 

The Hang Seng Index fell 0.8% to 24,019.92, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index decreased 0.5% to 4,672.26. 

China Construction Bank decreased 0.1%, China CITIC Bank increased 0.9%, Bank of China declined 0.6%, and ICBC fell 0.3%. 

SMIC fell 4.4%, Tencent Holdings decreased 1.3%, and Alibaba Group Holding declined 2.2%.