China's trade surplus jumps to 18.56 bln dlrs in March: state media

CHINA.WIRE

China's trade surplus jumps to 18.56 bln dlrs in March: state media
BEIJING, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2009
China's trade surplus jumped 41.2 percent year-on-year in March to 18.56 billion dollars, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.

The figure came despite a 17.1 percent drop in China's vital exports, which marked the fifth straight monthly fall, as imports slumped by 25.1 percent, it said.

China has seen its exports take a beating due to the global financial crisis, which has shrunk foreign demand for Chinese-made goods.