Beijing — China’s imports and exports grew at a faster pace in September than in the previous month, suggesting the world’s second-biggest economy is still expanding at a healthy clip despite widespread forecasts of an eventual slowdown. Imports in dollar-denominated terms grew 18.7% in September from a year earlier, beating analysts’ forecasts for a 13.5% expansion and accelerating from 13.3% in August, customs data showed on Friday. The gain was stronger than the most optimistic forecast in a Reuters analysts poll. Exports rose 8.1%, below forecasts of 8.8% but handily beating August’s 5.5%. The solid September readings will be welcome news for Beijing ahead of a major political leadership reshuffle next week, at which President Xi Jinping is expected to further tighten his grip on power. Once again, China’s imports were led by industrial resources as a year-long construction boom shows no signs of flagging, boosting demand for materials from steel to copper. China’s September iro...
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