Trade surplus heads south

Import surge in August reflects robust domestic demand, say analysts

BEIJING - China's trade surplus is expected to further narrow for the rest of the year as the pace of imports gathers momentum on the back of robust domestic demand and favorable government policies, analysts said on Friday.

Trade surplus narrowed to $20.03 billion in August, as imports rose by 35.2 percent to $119.27 billion, much faster than July's 22.7 percent growth, according to the General Administration of Customs.