China's exports climbed 36% in September, lifted by a surge in shipments tied to artificial intelligence, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
The strong showing puts China's trade surplus on course for a record, according to the Financial Times. The New York Times also reported that the surplus is tracking toward an all-time high.
CNBC reported that both exports and imports came in above expectations for the month. Reuters said the September export figures put a $1 trillion trade surplus within reach.
AP News reported that China's trade surplus reached $938 billion for the January-to-September period, adding that pressure is mounting on Beijing to rebalance its trade.
The reports point to AI-related goods as a key driver of the export growth, though the summaries do not break down how much of the increase came from that category.
The scale of the surplus is likely to sharpen attention on China's trade relationships, particularly with partners that have raised concerns about persistent imbalances. The January-to-September figure from AP News covers the first nine months of the year and suggests the full-year total could set a new record if the current pace holds.
What to watch next: whether the AI-driven export momentum carries into the fourth quarter, and how major trading partners respond to a surplus that is approaching the $1 trillion mark.
