China’s latest official figures have confirmed it was the only major economy to see growth in 2020.

The world’s second-largest economy says it grew 2.3% last year, compared with the previous year, with the final quarter seeing growth of 6.5%.

Shutdowns from Covid-19 had caused the economy to slump by 6.8% in the first three months of 2020.

Strict virus containment measures and emergency relief for businesses helped the economy recover.

The latest figures suggest that China’s economy could be picking up pace, according to some economists.

“The GDP data shows the economy has almost normalized. This momentum will continue, although the current covid-19 outbreak in a couple of provinces in northern China might temporarily cause fluctuation,” said Yue Su, the Principal Economist for the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), in a note.

China’s mainland share markets as well as Hong Kong’s Hang Seng posted modest gains on the latest figures, which exceeded economists expectations, according to a Reuters poll.

However, Covid-19 was still a major drain on growth in 2020, with nationwide shutdowns of factories and manufacturing plants forcing economic growth down to its slowest rate for four decades.

China’s manufacturing sector appears to have recovered, with Monday’s data showing a 7.3% increase in industrial output.

Exports have also led the way. Data last week showed Chinese exports grew by more than expected in December, as coronavirus disruptions around the world fuelled demand for Chinese goods.

That’s despite a stronger yuan, which makes Chinese exports more expensive for overseas buyers.

It’s not all good news.

Li Wei, a Senior Economist at Standard Chartered Bank said pandemic-related exports and credit-fuelled car and housing sales accounted for much of the growth, while domestic demand lagged behind.

“Domestic household consumption of food, clothing, furniture and utilities remains below pre-pandemic levels, while the hospitality and transportation sectors continue to face capacity and travel restrictions,” he told Reuters.
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Although retail sales grew by 4.6% in the fourth quarter of 2020, they fell by 3.9% for the year.

Many analysts are tipping growth to accelerate in 2021, but the China Bureau of Statistics has warned of a “grave and complex environment both at home and abroad”, with the pandemic having a “huge impact”.

China still faces many challenges, including continuing trade tensions with the US and how they might play out under the administration of President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office later this week.