China returns to trade surplus

Exports rose a year-on-year 33.5 per cent during the first four months of this year to US$122.03bn, while imports rose 46.8 percent to US$121.93bn. In April alone, exports reached US$35.62bn and imports were US$34.60bn, said China Daily. China's trade surplus in April followed a deficit of more than US$1bn in the first quarter that was its first in seven years.

The newspaper added that China was expected to post a trade deficit of US$2bn- 3bn this year, the largest deficit since 1993, due to fallout from the Sars virus.