China-Trade/Middle East
China-Trade/Middle East
Dateline : April 14, 2026/File
Location : China
Duration : 1'30
Beijing, China - April 14, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Press conference
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lyu Daliang, spokesman, General Administration of Customs:
"[The UNCTAD report's analysis pointed out that] following the outbreak of the Iran war, fuel prices have surged sharply and remained at high levels, while oil transportation costs have risen significantly. These factors are driving up the cost of global goods production and transportation through the supply chain. Global trade in goods is expected to decline substantially. The World Trade Organization's latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics has significantly lowered its forecast for global goods trade growth. Our statistics also show that China's imports and exports to the Middle East region turned from year-on-year growth in the first two months to a decline in March."
3. Reporters
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lyu Daliang, spokesman, General Administration of Customs:
"China always advocates resolving disputes through political and diplomatic channels and has been actively committed to promoting peace and ending conflict. We hope all parties can work together to ease tensions as soon as possible and restore peace and stability in the strait and the Middle East."
FILE: Zhejiang Province, east China - 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Aerial shots of Ningbo Zhoushan Port
6. Aerial shots of cargo ships, cranes
China's trade with the Middle East shifted from growth in the first two months of 2026 to a year-on-year decline in March, according to the General Administration of Customs (GACC) on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, GACC spokesman Lyu Daliang attributed the downturn primarily to escalating tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy and goods transport.
Citing a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Lyu noted that the strait handles 25 percent of global seaborne oil trade, 19 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG), 29 percent of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and 13 percent of related chemical products. He described the waterway as a vital "maritime chokepoint" for international logistics.
Lyu further referenced UNCTAD analysis and the latest World Trade Organization (WTO) forecast to illustrate the broader impact.
"[The UNCTAD report's analysis pointed out that] following the outbreak of the Iran war, fuel prices have surged sharply and remained at high levels, while oil transportation costs have risen significantly. These factors are driving up the cost of global goods production and transportation through the supply chain. Global trade in goods is expected to decline substantially," he said.
He added that the WTO's latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics has sharply revised down its growth forecasts for global goods trade.
"Our data confirms this trend: China's imports and exports with the Middle East turned from year-on year growth in the first two months to a decline in March," said the spokesman.
On the diplomatic front, Lyu reiterated China's position.
"China always advocates resolving disputes through political and diplomatic channels and has been actively committed to promoting peace and ending conflict. We hope all parties can work together to ease tensions as soon as possible and restore peace and stability in the strait and the Middle East," he added.
ID : 8474678
Published : 2026-04-14 11:41
Last Modified : 2026-04-14 21:23:12
Source : China Central Television (CCTV)
Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland
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