China posts USD 13.84 bn trade surplus as imports grew 4 pct in April

China's April exports unexpectedly fell 2.7 per cent from a year earlier, while imports grew by a surprising 4 per cent, their first increase in months, official data showed on Wednesday. That left the country with a trade surplus of $13.84 billion for the month, according to the General Administration of Customs.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected April shipments from the world's largest exporter to have increased a modest 2.3 per cent from a year earlier, after a strong rebound of 14.2 per cent in March. Imports were expected to have dropped 3.6 per cent, narrowing from the previous month's 7.6 per cent fall. The trade surplus was projected to have expanded to $35 billion last month from $32.65 billion in March.

China's economy is expected to slow to 6.2 per cent this year, the weakest in nearly 30 years, according to a Reuters poll, as sluggish demand at home and abroad weighs on activity despite a flurry of policy support measures.