Imports to the country also increased, but only by 1.1 percent. In 2021, it increased by 30.1 percent.
The country’s politically sensitive trade surplus increased by 29.7 percent compared to 2021.
“China’s foreign trade and exports showed strong resilience through many difficulties and challenges,” said Lu Daliang, spokesperson for the customs authority, at a press conference.
Lu also warns that “downward pressure on the world economy is increasing” and that Chinese exports will face many difficulties and challenges going forward.
Signs of this were already visible in the official export figures for December. Exports fell by 9.9 percent compared to December 2021.
In December, Chinese imports also declined by 7.5 percent.