Foreign trade switches to surplus

China's foreign trade balance shifted to a surplus of US$2.1 billion in May from a deficit over the previous four months, according to Chinese media reports citing a National Bureau of Statistics official. China recorded a trade deficit of US$2.26 billion in April and a deficit US$10.76 billion for the first four months of 2004. The total value of trade rose by 34.1% in May from a month earlier. Total imports and exports in April amounted to US$96.5 billion.