China's economy speeds up on strong exports while demand at home stays weak

Growth, July to September, year on year

4.5 %

China's economy grew 4.5 per cent in the July-September quarter from a year earlier, up from 4.3 per cent in the previous quarter.

Beijing's growth target for the year is 4.5 to 5 per cent. The International Monetary Fund trimmed its forecast this month to 4.5 per cent, the low end of that goal.

Trade surplus, January to September

938 US$ billion

Exports grew 36 per cent last month, and the trade surplus reached US$938 billion from January to September, on track to beat last year's record of US$1.2 trillion.

The international environment is complex and volatile, the problem of insufficient domestic demand remains relatively prominent and the foundation for a stable, improving economy still needs consolidation.

— Mao Shengyong, China's statistics bureau

Why it matters

A yearslong property downturn weighs on demand at home, while trade partners such as the European Union push to shrink their deficits with China.