China's commodity exports to US grow at slower pace in H1

BEIJING - China's commodity exports to the United States rose 5.4 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year, down from 19.3 percent rise posted during the same period of last year, customs data showed Monday.

During the January-June period, mechanical and electrical product exports, which accounted for 62.6 percent of China's total exports to the United States, climbed 8 percent from one year earlier, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

Growth of traditional labor-intensive product exports, including garments and furniture, remained flat compared with the same period of last year, according to GAC.

In June alone, China's exports to the United States increased 3.8 percent year-on-year, with the pace of increase down sharply from 27.6 percent in the same month of 2017.

Shipment of mechanical and electrical products to the United States increased 4 percent year-on-year last month, exports of traditional labor-intensive commondities grew 3.5 percent while those of farm produce edged down 0.9 percent.