China Exports for May Slip Back Into Contraction, Imports Worst in 4 Years

A cargo ship carrying containers is seen near the Yantian port in Shenzhen, following the COVID-19 outbreak, in Guangdong Province, China, on May 17, 2020. Martin Pollard/Reuters

BEIJING—China’s exports contracted in May as global CCP virus lockdowns continued to devastate demand, while a sharper-than-expected fall in imports pointed to mounting pressure on manufacturers as global growth stalls.

Overseas shipments in May fell 3.3 percent from a year earlier, after a surprise 3.5 percent gain in April, customs data showed on Sunday. That compared with a 7 percent drop forecast in a Reuters poll.