China's exports, imports decline slows in September

China's exports and imports fell in September, but the pace of the decline was the slowest since the past nine months, an indication that the world's third largest economy is well on its way to recovery.

Exports from China fell to $115.9 billion, down by 15.2 per cent from September 2008, which was the smallest fall in nine months, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement on its website.

Imports fell by 3.5 per cent to $103 billion, the smallest decline since the past 11 months.

In the first nine months of 2009, the trade surplus stood at $135.5 billion, down 26 per cent compared with the same period a year ago.

China's trade surplus was $12.93 billion in September, but trade surplus for the first nine months ended 30 September stood at $135.48 billion.

In August, the country's exports had declined by 20.6 per cent compared to the same month last year but saw a 2.3 per cent rise since July. In July, exports had fallen by 23.0 per cent. (See: China's imports, exports tumble again in August)

Its August's exports were $103.7 billion compared to $134.9 billion in the same month a year.