Beijing — China’s imports grew at the fastest pace in more than two years in November, fuelled by its strong thirst for commodities from coal to iron ore, while exports also unexpectedly rose, reflecting a pick-up in both domestic and global demand. Imports expanded 6.7% from a year earlier, easily eclipsing economists’ expectations for a drop of 1.3% and its strongest gain since September 2014, official data showed on Thursday. Exports rose 0.1% from a year earlier, defying predictions for a 5% slide. That left the country with a trade surplus of $44.61bn for the month, the General Administration of Customs said, versus forecasts of $46.30bn and October’s $49.06bn. "The improvement reflects a strengthening in global demand, with recent business surveys suggesting that developed economies are on track to end the year on a strong note," Julian Evans-Pritchard, China economist of Singapore-based Capital Economics, said in a note. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a slightly more...
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