China’s December exports rose 20.9% from a year ago, slightly more than expected

There are containers at the port.

Customs data released Friday shows that China's exports grew slightly more than expected in December.

The increase in exports was more than the 20% increase forecast by the poll.

The imports grew by 19.5% in the U.S. dollar-terms, missing expectations.

December's figure was much slower than November's, when imports rose by 31.7%. In November, exports grew by 22%.

The chief economist of Pinpoint Asset Management said in a note that he expects China's exports to remain strong in the first quarter.

China's economy may be helped by the strong exports. Infrastructure investment is expected to be the second driver in the next few months.

The U.S. was China's largest trading partner. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union traded more with China in the year 2021, according to the data.

For the year, exports to the U.S. rose by 27.5% while imports grew by 32.7%.

The trade surplus with the U.S. increased for the second year in a row in the year that ended in March.