China’s Exports Jump 19.4%

HONG KONG (AP) — China has reported its exports picked up pace in May, rising 19.4% from a year earlier. That was stronger than what economists had expected and an improvement from April’s 14.1% year-on-year exports growth. Exports have remained robust despite the Iran war, supported by shipments of autos and technology and artificial intelligence-related products such as semiconductors. Imports jumped 27.4% year-on-year in May, also at a faster pace compared with April’s 25.3% expansion. China’s exports to the U.S. in May were up more than 35% from the year before, after an 11% increase in April. The global AI boom and a rising worldwide shift to green technology are also helping.