The mainland's trade surplus is poised to set another record this year, exceeding US$280 billion for 2008, the country's top planning agency said.

The full-year surplus will top last year's record of US$262.2 billion, despite the sharp slowdown in mainland exports in recent months, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. The full-year figure suggested a December trade surplus of at least US$24 billion, since the surplus in the first 11 months reached US$256 billion. Last month's trade surplus hit a record high of US$40.09 billion.