China exports, imports fall

China's October exports fell 7.3 per cent from a year earlier, while imports shrank 1.4 per cent, both declining more than expected.

That left the country with a trade surplus of $US49.06 billion for the month, the General Administration of Customs said on Tuesday..

Exports in the first 10 months of the year fell 7.7 per cent from the same period a year earlier, while imports dropped 7.5 per cent.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected October exports to have fallen 6 per cent from a year earlier, an improvement from a 10 per cent contraction in September but pointing to persistently sluggish global demand.

Imports were expected to have dropped 1 percent, after falling 1.9 per cent in September.

The trade surplus was forecast to have expanded to $US51.70 billion in October, versus September's $US41.99 billion.