China's Export Market Remains Gloomy Despite Slight August Boost

China's exports in August declined by 8.8% compared to the previous year, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline, although the rate of decline narrowed from July. Analysts remain concerned about soft external demand and expect trade performance to continue weakening in the coming months, despite the upcoming Christmas season. Factors such as the yuan's depreciation, a lower base last year, and delayed delivery of orders disrupted by typhoons contributed to the marginal improvement. The ongoing global supply chain upheaval and political/geopolitical factors also pose longer-term concerns. Policymakers are focusing on domestic economic challenges, particularly the property market, as external demand remains weak, and may implement more policy measures to boost growth if the macro momentum doesn't improve soon.