Eking out

Wau, every now and then, some new words and their combinations enter my vision.
Today, it is eke out, as in:

Installing an incredible 8.4 GW in the fourth quarter in anticipation of the expiration of the PTC, the US installed 13,124 MW, eking out China, which at 12,960 MW had its lowest level of installations since 2008. [link to GWEC]

eke out

vb (tr, adverb)

1. to make (a supply) last, esp by frugal use they eked out what little food was left

2. to support (existence) with difficulty and effort

3. to add to (something insufficient), esp with effort to eke out an income with evening work

 

Totally copied from Free Online dictionary (here).