China's trade slump eases in September

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-10-14 11:34

BEIJING: The slump in China's exports eased in September in a sign global trade is improving and bolstering the government's efforts to sustain an economic recovery.

Exports from the world's third-largest economy in September fell 15.2 percent year-on-year to $115.9 billion, while imports declined by 3.5 percent to $103 billion, the government's customs agency reported Wednesday.

Both declines were improvements over August, when exports contracted 23 percent, and imports fell 17 percent.

Exports in September rose 6.3 percent compared with the previous month, while imports were up 8.3 percent month-on-month, the customs agency said, after adjusting for seasonal factors.

The trade surplus fell to $12.9 billion in September, compared with $15.7 billion in August.

China's trade suffered heavily in late 2008, battered by the global economic crisis, but Beijing's 4 trillion yuan ($596 billion) stimulus package has helped to insulate the country's economy by heavy spending on public works construction and other initiatives.

The government is due to report quarterly economic growth next week.