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A shipping container and gantry cranes at the Yangshan Deepwater Port in Shanghai, China, on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.

BEIJING — China's exports and imports both missed expectations in September, raising concerns about one of the few bright spots in the world's second largest economy.

Customs data out Monday showed exports rose by 2.4% in September from a year ago in U.S. dollar terms, while imports added 0.3%.

Analysts had expected faster growth. China's exports were forecast to have risen by 6% year-on-year in September in U.S. dollar terms, with imports anticipated to have posted a 0.9% year-on-year climb last month, according to Reuters polls.

Exports have been a major driver of growth in China's economy, which in recent years has been weighed down by lackluster consumer spending and a real estate slump.

But heightened trade tensions will make it difficult for China's exports to keep growing at a strong pace heading into next year, Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, said in a note. "The change of fiscal policy stance as indicated by the press conference over the weekend is critical as a pillar for growth next year."

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