China's Exports Suffer 8.8% Drop in August, Marking Fourth Consecutive Month of Decline

China’s exports dropped 8.8% in August 2022 from a year earlier, marking the fourth straight month of declining overseas sales. Imports also fell, by 7.3% in August. Demand has softened both in China and abroad for China's goods amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, international trade disputes, and China's zero-COVID policies that disrupted supply chains. Households also shifted spending toward services post-pandemic. Exports of computers fell 18.2% last month while medical exports were down 7.1%, reflecting shifting demand patterns, while appliance exports such as refrigerators rose 11.4%, showing some categories stabilizing.