China's exports and imports beat estimates for first 2 months, signaling improving demand

File - A container ship passes tourists in Xiamen in southeast China's Fujian province on Dec. 26, 2023. China’s exports and imports for the January-February period beat estimates, an indication that demand may be improving as Beijing attempts to boost economic recovery, according to customs data released Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

A freight train carrying cars to be exported arrives at a dock for ro-ro shipping in Yantai in eastern China's Shandong province Sunday, March 3, 2024. China's exports and imports for the first two months of the year beat estimates, an indication that demand may be improving as Beijing attempts to boost economic recovery. (Chinatopix via AP)

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, workers dock a container vessel at Qingdao Port, east China's Shandong Province on Feb. 11, 2024. China's exports and imports for the first two months of the year beat estimates, an indication that demand may be improving as Beijing attempts to speed up its economic recovery. (Li Ziheng/Xinhua via AP)

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, containers are unloaded from a cargo ship at Qingdao Port, east China's Shandong Province on Feb. 11, 2024. China's exports and imports for the first two months of the year beat estimates, an indication that demand may be improving as Beijing attempts to speed up its economic recovery. (Li Ziheng/Xinhua via AP)

HONG KONG (AP) — China’s exports and imports for the first two months of the year beat estimates, an indication that demand may be improving as Beijing attempts to speed up its economic recovery.

Exports in January-February grew 7.1% from a year earlier, according to customs data released Thursday, up from a 2.3% rise in December. Imports rose 3.5%, compared to 0.2% growth in December. The trade surplus was $125 billion.

The world’s second-largest economy has struggled to bounce back after the COVID-19 pandemic, as it grapples with weaker demand globally and a slump in its property sector that is weighing on growth.

Though China usually releases trade data monthly, the data for the first two months of the year are combined to avoid distortions from the weeklong Lunar New Year holidays, when many businesses and factories are closed.

Demand for Chinese exports has weakened since the Federal Reserve and central banks in Europe and Asia began raising interest rates last year to cool inflation that was at multi-decade highs.

Manufacturing activity in China has also contracted for five consecutive months, according to an official purchasing managers’ index. The PMI has fallen for much of the past year.

China has set a target of around 5% for economic growth this year, Chinese Premier Li Qiang informed delegates to the annual session of the National People’s Congress.

The target is seen as ambitious by economists who say more policy support is required to boost growth.

It's also raising concerns over whether China might seek to push exports sharply higher to support growth. Worries over surging exports of electric vehicles to Europe have raised alarm over whether Chinese-made EVs might crowd out those made by local manufacturers.

The data for January-February show China's trade in U.S. dollar terms with Europe and Japan falling, while exports to the U.S. rose 5% from a year earlier.

Much of the growth in exports came from trade with China's Southeast Asian neighbors. Exports to the region rose 4.8% from a year earlier while imports climbed 6%.

China's exports of vehicles jumped 22% in January-February in terms of volume and nearly 13% in terms of value, the data show. There was no breakdown by destination or type of vehicle.