BEIJING, Dec 8 (Reuters) – China’s exports topped forecasts in November, buoyed by a boost from a tariff truce with ​the U.S. even as weak factory activity and vanishing ‌returns from front-loading point to a challenging 2026.

Outbound shipments from the world’s second-biggest ‌economy grew 5.9% year-on-year, customs data showed on Monday, reversing from a 1.1% contraction a month prior, and beating a 3.8% forecast in a Reuters poll.

Imports were up 1.9%, compared to a 1.0% ⁠uptick in October. ‌Economists had expected a 3.0% increase.

November kicked off with news that the United States and China had ‍agreed to scale back some of their tariffs and a raft of other measures after President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping ​met in South Korea on October 30.

Economists estimate that diminished ‌access to the U.S. market has reduced China’s export growth by roughly 2 percentage points, equivalent to around 0.3% of GDP.

October’s unexpected downturn, following an 8.3% surge the month prior, signalled that Chinese exporters’ tactic of front-loading U.S.-bound shipments to beat Trump’s ⁠tariffs had run its course.

Although Chinese ​factory owners reported an improvement in new ​export orders in November, they were still in contraction, underscoring continued uncertainty for manufacturers as they struggle to ‍replace demand in ⁠the absence of U.S. buyers.

An official survey tracking broader factory activity showed that the sector contracted for an eighth ⁠consecutive month.

China’s trade surplus stood at $111.68 billion in November, from $90.07 billion recorded the ‌previous month, and beating a forecast of $100.2 billion.

(Reporting by ‌Joe CashEditing by Shri Navaratnam)