Exports Fuel 4.5% Boost to China's GDP in Q3

China's GDP grew by 4.5% year-over-year between July and September, helped by a boom in exports brought on by demand for artificial intelligence technology.

The Guardian reports that the 4.5% growth in GDP for the third quarter came in ahead of the 4.3% rate that had been forecast by economists. Additionally, China's GDP expanded by 4.6% in the first nine months of the year, putting it on track for its full-year target of 4.5%-5%.

The strong quarter was fueled in part by a 5.5% bump in industrial production in September, up from 5.2% in the previous month, thanks in large part to strong export demand for electronics and AI-related equipment. China also reported its second-highest monthly trade surplus in September, and the full year is on pace to exceed 2025's record $1.19 trillion surplus.

However, China's strong exports have continued to mask weaker aspects of the country's economy. In the first nine months of 2026, fixed-asset investments — such as buildings, equipment and infrastructure — fell by 7.2%, including a 20.6% dip in property investments, and a 4.2% decline in infrastructure investments. Local governments also pulled in 28.6% less funding from leasing land to developers, leaving them with significantly less money to build and maintain roads, bridges and rail lines.

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