China saw a surprising 14.1-per-cent year-on-year jump in exports in December after a seven-month slowdown, the government said Thursday.
November's increase had been 2.9 per cent. Imports in December rose 6 per cent from December 2011, the customs office said. No growth in imports had been recorded in November.
Trade for all of 2012, however, grew a disappointing 6.2 per cent when the government had set a goal of 10 per cent. Growth in imports and exports for 2011 had been 22.5 per cent.
China has seen demand for its exports fall as Europe struggles with the eurozone debt crisis, the United States is beset with uncertainty over its uneven economic recovery and wages in China rise.
The customs office predicted another "slight" improvement in trade this year.