China's trade surplus more than doubled to $31 billion in September, official data showed today, as exports jumped while imports increased at a slower rate.
Exports from the world's second-biggest economy rose 15.3% year on year to $213.7 billion, the General Administration of Customs said, while imports climbed 7% to $182.7 billion.
The surplus was lower than August's record $49.8 billion, and also came in below expectations of $42 billion in a poll of 15 economists.
But the rise in exports accelerated from August's 9.4% and was ahead of the median forecast of 12.5%. The survey had predicted a fall of 2.4% in imports, matching a surprise decline in August.
Customs spokesman Zheng Yuesheng attributed the improvement to major economies recovering and external demand strengthening.
"The good momentum is expected to continue in the fourth quarter," he added.
The positive figures are the latest contradictory indicator for China's economy, a key driver of global growth.
Recent reports have suggested expansion in China - which stood at 7.7% last year, maintaining its slowest in more than a decade - is weakening even after authorities took limited stimulatory measures.
Industrial production growth slowed sharply in August to its lowest level for more than five years, official data said last month, while house prices have fallen for five consecutive months.
Officials are targeting economic growth of "about 7.5%" this year, the same as last year's objective. The goal is normally exceeded, but senior officials have repeatedly sought to play down its significance this year.
Last week the World Bank cut its forecast for Chinese growth to 7.4% for 2014 and 7.2% for 2015, while the International Monetary Fund left its predictions unchanged at 7.4% and 7.1% but warned of "near-term growth risks", especially in the property sector.
Today figures show that in the third quarter, exports rose 12.8% year-on-year while imports crept up 0.9%, Customs said without giving totals.
For the first three quarters, China recorded a total trade surplus of $231.6 billion, the statement said, up 37.8 % year-on-year.
Exports climbed 5.1% over the nine-month period to $1.7 trillion, while imports rose 1.3% to $1.46 trillion.
Trade with the European Union was up 10.2% at 2.81 trillion yuan ($460 billion), 14.5% of the total, and up 5.2% with the US to 2.48 trillion yuan, 12.8% of the total.
But bilateral trade with Hong Kong fell 13% year-on-year to 1.61 trillion yuan. With Japan it crept up 0.4% to 1.43 trillion yuan.
