Trade surplus continues declining trend

Falls for third consecutive year as global demand shrinks for exports

BEIJING / SHANGHAI - China's trade surplus narrowed further for the third consecutive year in 2011 to below $160 billion, while exports declined due to the European debt crisis and the sluggish US economy.

Global demand for made-in-China goods will continue to be weak in the coming year, especially with eurozone uncertainty creating "downside" risks for the economy, economists warned.