China says its exports rose 21 percent in January from the same period a year ago, a further sign that its economy has withstood the global recession.
The figures released by the General Administration of Customs Wednesday show exports totaled over $109 billion. January's increase follows on the heels of a 17.7 percent increase in December.
Officials says last month's export increase was partly due to the comparison with a period of low activity last year, when companies were idled for the Lunar New Year.
The customs office also says imports soared 85.5 percent in January. The import and export figures taken together made a $14.2 billion trade surplus for the month.
But in a month-on-month basis, exports dropped 16.3 percent in January from December, and imports fell 15.1 percent.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.