Mainland exports surged 29 per cent last month, helped by overseas demand and exporters' tax rebates.
The export growth, the highest monthly rise so far this year, is above market expectations of about 20 per cent, according to official media.
It is also higher than the forecast by Ma Xiuhong, assistant minister of foreign trade, who said last week that last month's exports rose between 19 and 20 per cent year on year.
The 29 per cent year-on-year increase put last month's exports at US$19.5 billion, while imports rose 37 per cent to $16.9 billion, New China News Service reported yesterday, citing the latest customs data.
That resulted in a trade surplus of $2.6 billion for the month, down from $2.78 billion in November last year.
In the first 11 months, exports rose 6.6 per cent to $174.7 billion, while imports were up 20.9 per cent to $148.3 billion, resulting in a $26.4 billion trade surplus, much smaller than $41.3 billion for the same period last year.
Exports to Hong Kong were up 42 per cent in the first 11 months, but accumulated exports to Hong Kong were still down 6.4 per cent year on year.
