Imports rose 14.1 percent from the 5 percent for the combined January-February period, customs data showed Wednesday, suggesting Chinese manufacturers and consumers might be buying more.
Export growth slowed to 10 percent from the previous two-month period’s 23.6 percent. That could add to challenges for newly installed Communist Party leaders as they try to sustain the rebound from China’s deepest downturn since the 2008 global crisis and avoid job losses.
“Exports growth was expected to decelerate,” said Alaistair Chan of Moody’s Analytics in a report. “On the imports side, it is too soon to tell if the bounce reflects higher domestic demand or simply a rebound” from February’s sharp reported decline.
Economic growth rose to 7.9 percent in the three months ending in December, up from the previous quarter’s 7.4 percent. Analysts say the recovery is being propped up by government spending and could be vulnerable if trade or state-driven investment weakens.
Analysts said possible problems with the accuracy of official data made it hard to use them to get a clear picture of China’s economic health.
Commentators raised questions after China reported much stronger trade with other countries in recent months than was shown by data from the governments of those economies.