Fall in importsslows, points toward recovery

June saw the smallest decline in imports in eight months, a fresh sign of recovery for the world's third largest economy.

The country imported $87.2 billion worth of goods last month, a year-on-year drop of 13.2 percent, Customs data showed on Friday. In May, imports had dropped more than 25 percent year-on-year to $75.3 billion.

"China is importing more (a month) to meet its consumer and industrial need," Industrial Securities' chief economist Dong Xian'an said.