BEIJING ¡ª China overtook Germany as the
world's top exporter after December exports jumped 17.7 percent for their first
increase in 14 months, data showed Sunday, in another sign of China's rise as a
global economic force.
Exports for the last month of 2009 were $130.7 billion, data from the General
Administration of Customs showed. That raised total 2009 exports to $1.2
trillion, ahead of the 816 billion euros ($1.17 trillion) for Germany forecast
by its foreign trade organization, BGA.
China's new status is largely symbolic but reflects the ability of its
resilient, low-cost manufacturers to keep selling abroad despite a slump in
global consumer demand due to the financial crisis.
December's rebound was an "important turning point" for exporters, a
customs agency economist, Huang Guohua, said on state television, CCTV.
"We can say that China's export enterprises have completely emerged from
their all-time low in exports," Huang said.
Recovery
Stronger foreign sales of Chinese goods could help to drive the country's
recovery after demand plunged in 2008, forcing thousands of factories to close
and throwing millions of laborers out of work.
Boosted by a 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus, China's economic
expansion accelerated to 8.9 percent for the third quarter of 2009 and the
government says full-year growth should be 8