China defies Hormuz crisis with record monthly export value in April

China’s export sector showed strong resilience last month, with the total value of outbound shipments hitting a monthly record even as the Strait of Hormuz crisis showed little sign of abating after driving up energy and shipping costs.The value of China’s exports rose in April by 14.1 per cent, year on year, to US$359.44 billion, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Saturday. The reading was above the 6.96 per cent growth forecast compiled by financial data provider Wind.Meanwhile, the value of imports grew by 25.3 per cent last month to US$274.62 billion, exceeding the Wind poll’s 13.86 per cent growth projection, while the trade surplus stood at US$84.82 billion last month, compared with US$51.1 billion in March.