China's exports and imports both recorded unexpectedly strong growth in October, a sign that the economy remained resilient despite growing external uncertainties.
Exports in yuan-denominated terms rose 20.1 percent year on year in October, sharply up from the 17-percent growth seen in September, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs.
The data showed imports surged 26.3 percent last month, also quickening from a rise of 17.4 percent registered in September.
As a result, trade surplus stood at 233.63 billion yuan (about 33.76 billion U.S. dollars) last month, widening from 213.23 billion yuan in September.
For the first 10 months of the year, China's foreign trade totaled 25.05 trillion yuan, up 11.3 percent from the same period last year.
The trade surplus for the first 10 months narrowed 26.1 percent year on year to 1.65 trillion yuan.
Analysts said the stronger-than-expected trade growth is partly caused by "front-loading activity" as exporters ramp up shipments amid trade uncertainties.
Huatai Securities analysts noted a lower comparative base from last year and a weaker yuan, as well as that China's closer economic and trade ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific region and along the Belt and Road also led to the strong growth.
October marked the first full month after the latest U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods came into effect.
For the first 10 months, China's foreign trade with the United States, its second-biggest trade partner, rose 7.4 percent. Its surplus with the United States widened 11.5 percent from one year earlier to 1.69 trillion yuan.
Trade with the European Union (EU), China's biggest trade partner, climbed 8.4 percent year on year for January-October, and that with the ASEAN, its third-largest trade partner, expanded 13.7 percent.
Combined trade with countries along the Belt and Road amounted to 6.84 trillion yuan, up 14.8 percent from one year earlier.
Yingda Securities chief economist Li Daxiao said a string of favorable policies, including lower import tariffs and higher export tax rebates, also helped boost trade growth and stabilize the economic growth.
The country's economy expanded 6.5 percent in the third quarter, down from 6.7 percent in the second quarter but in line with the government's annual target.
Its imports of crude oil climbed 8.1 percent year on year to 377 million tonnes in the first 10 months. Coal imports increased 11.5 percent while those of copper surged 17.2 percent. However, auto imports dropped 5.3 percent compared with one year earlier.
At the ongoing first China International Import Expo, China vowed to import 40 trillion U.S. dollars worth of products and services in the next 15 years.
-in� *:4��hZ�ground:white'>原油、天然气等进口量增加当前，全球第一个以“进口”为主题的国家级展会——中国国际进口博览会，正在中国上海召开。在关注展会上争奇斗艳的展品的同时，各界也高度关注我国目前的宏观进口数据。
而从此次发布的进口数据来看，当前，我国原油、天然气等商品进口量增加，大豆进口量减少，大宗商品进口均价涨跌互现。前10个月，我国进口铁矿砂8.92亿吨，减少0.5%，进口均价为每吨456.1元，下跌7.1%；原油3.77亿吨，增加8.1%，进口均价为每吨3385.9元，上涨30.5%；煤2.52亿吨，增加11.5%，进口均价为每吨574.7元，上涨1.6%；大豆7693万吨，减少0.5%，进口均价为每吨2813.2元，下跌0.5%；天然气7206万吨，增加33.1%，进口均价为每吨2676.4元，上涨18.9%；成品油2714万吨，增加11.4%，进口均价为每吨3924.4元，上涨20.6%。
对于未来中国进口整体态势，李超分析：“首届中国国际进口博览会于11月5日召开，我们预计此次进博会将拉动进口，进一步优化我国全球贸易布局。同时，由于国内政策转向扩内需、稳经济，预计未来进口增速超预期走低概率较小。”