China trade surplus narrows in face of global woes

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Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - China's trade surplus narrowed in September for a second month in a row as growth of exports and imports both fell below forecasts, reflecting global economic weakness and offering Beijing ammunition to resist U.S. pressure on the yuan.

Exports increased 17.1 percent last month from a year ago, slowing from a 24.5 percent gain in August, and imports increased 20.9 percent, compared with August's 30.2 percent rise, the customs office said on Thursday.

That created a trade surplus of $14.5 billion in September, compared with $17.8 billion in August and $31.5 billion in July. The rolling 12-month trade surplus reached $180.3 billion in September, dipping from $182.7 billion in August.

"Export growth in September was much lower than market expectations, showing the sputtering external economy, and we expect the slowing export trend to continue in the coming months," said Wang Hu, an analyst for Guotai Junan Securities in Shanghai.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/13/us-china-economy-trade-idUSTRE79C0K620111013

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1. of it is made in china, put it back nt