AlQa'dah 15, 1432, Oct 13, 2011, SPA -- China's export growth fell in September in a sign of the West's malaise and a setback for hopes Chinese demand will help prop up a shaky global economy, according to AP. The slump in Western nations will hurt struggling Chinese exporters and raise the specter of politically sensitive job losses. Economies such as Australia and Japan that supply raw materials and components to China also might suffer because its export manufacturers account for half of Chinese imports and are cutting orders. Export growth fell to 17.1 percent over a year earlier, down from August's 24.5 percent, customs data showed Thursday. Import growth also fell, while China's politically sensitive trade surplus narrowed to $14.5 billion. China's domestic demand also has weakened following repeated interest rate hikes and investment curbs as the government tries to steer growth that hit 9.5 percent in the quarter ending in June to a more sustainable level. "I don't think it can singlehanded drive growth for other countries," said Royal Bank of Scotland economist Li Cui. Despite slower growth, September exports appeared to be a new monthly record high at $169.6 billion. Imports were $155.1 billion. The trade surplus was down from August's $17.8 billion and well below July's 30-month high of $31.5 billion. "We expect exports to further decelerate," Citigroup economists said in a report. China's September trade surplus with the United States rose 11.2 percent from a year earlier to $19.9 billion, customs data showed. The surplus with the 27-nation European Union, China's biggest trading partner, fell 7.2 percent to $12.9 billion. -- SPA
