China's trade surplus was US$3.13 billion last month, the year's highest.
China News Services, without providing a specific figure, said this was despite a drop in the total foreign trade value.
In the first nine months, the trade surplus was $8.13 billion, as its total foreign trade reached $199.93 billion, up 1.1 per cent from a year ago.
In the period to September, exports fell 2.7 per cent to $104.03 billion, while the imports rose 5.8 per cent to $95.9 billion.
In the first eight months, China's trade surplus was $4.99 billion, as exports slid 4.2 per cent from a year ago and imports rose 7.9 per cent.
China has recorded negative monthly export growth since November last year after Beijing twice cut tax rebates on exports but it has rebounded since June.