Trade surplus increased 16.4% in June

China’s monthly trade surplus increased 16.4% in June to US$31.6 billion, while imports and exports both increased in a promising sign for the Chinese economy, Agence France-Presse reported, citing official data released on Thursday. Annual exports increased 7.2% to US$186.8 billion, while imports gained 5.5% to US$155.2 billion. But the trade surplus fell short of the median forecast of US$36.9 billion in a survey of 21 economists by The Wall Street Journal. China’s trade statistics this year have been erratic, with Beijing reporting an unexpected trade deficit of almost US$23 billion in February, which authorities blamed on the Lunar New Year holiday.