CHINA’S exports to the United States nosedived 27 per cent in September from the year before, but growth in its global exports soared to a six-month high.

Customs figures released today showed that China’s worldwide exports were 8.3 per cent higher than a year earlier, at $328.5bn (£244bn), surpassing economists’ estimates. 

Imports grew 7.4 per cent last month, significantly better than a 1.3 per cent increase by year in August.

China’s exports to the US have fallen for six straight months. In August they dropped 33 per cent.

As exports to the US have come under pressure from US President Donald Trump’s policies aimed at trying to get manufacturers to shift factories to the US, China has expanded markets for its products in other regions.

Shipments to South East Asia grew 15.6 per cent year-on-year in September. Exports to Latin America and Africa were up 15 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively.

“Currently, the external environment is still severe and complicated. Trade is facing increasing uncertainty and difficulties,” Wang Jun, vice-minister of China’s customs agency, said at a press conference today. 

“We still need to put in more efforts to stabilise trade in the fourth quarter.”

Tensions with the US reignited on Friday after President Trump threatened an additional 100 per cent tariff on Chinese goods and export controls on “critical” software.

That came after China announced that it would hit US ships with new port fees in response to a US plan to impose port fees on Chinese vessels docking in the country. Beijing also extended export controls on lithium-ion batteries and on exports of rare earths and related technologies.

The friction could jeopardise plans for a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mr Trump in late October. It also suggests a lack of progress in efforts to forge a broad trade agreement between the world’s two biggest economies.