China's foreign trade posted a slower growth rate in March, and imports witnessed lower-than-expected growth, indicating weakening demand and backing up calls for more measures to boost imports, China Daily reports.
China's year-on year export growth slowed from 18.4 percent in February to 8.9 percent in March, according to statistics released on Tuesday by the General Administration of Customs.
Imports saw a deeper slump, with growth slowing from 39.6 percent in February to 5.3 percent in March.
But the relatively faster growth in exports than imports resulted in a trade surplus for the first time this year, with a $5.35 billion surplus in March and a cumulative surplus of $670 million.
Some domestic trade experts said February's surge in imports and exports did not mean too much as the resumption of business after the Lunar New Year usually results in a rebound in imports and exports.
But the 5.3 percent growth in imports is still far below the 9 percent median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey. It has pushed international copper and oil lower on worries about a weakening demand outlook for the leading importer of raw materials.
China's year-on year export growth slowed from 18.4 percent in February to 8.9 percent in March, according to statistics released on Tuesday by the General Administration of Customs.
Imports saw a deeper slump, with growth slowing from 39.6 percent in February to 5.3 percent in March.
But the relatively faster growth in exports than imports resulted in a trade surplus for the first time this year, with a $5.35 billion surplus in March and a cumulative surplus of $670 million.
Some domestic trade experts said February's surge in imports and exports did not mean too much as the resumption of business after the Lunar New Year usually results in a rebound in imports and exports.
But the 5.3 percent growth in imports is still far below the 9 percent median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey. It has pushed international copper and oil lower on worries about a weakening demand outlook for the leading importer of raw materials.