China's Jan. exports up 15.9 pct, imports up 25.2 pct

China's exports in yuan-denominated terms rose 15.9 percent year on year in January, while imports increased 25.2 percent, customs data showed Friday.

Foreign trade volume reached 2.18 trillion yuan (482.2 billion U.S. dollars) in January, up 19.6 percent year on year.

That led to a monthly trade surplus of 354.53 billion yuan, down 2.7 percent from a year earlier, according to General Administration of Customs (GAC) figures.

Foreign trade with the European Union, China's biggest trade partner, climbed 14.1 percent year on year in January, GAC data showed.

In the same period, foreign trade with the United States, China's second-biggest trade partner, rose 21.9 percent, and trade with ASEAN, its third-largest trade partner, increased 18.8 percent.

Exports of machinery and electronics surged 16.6 percent year on year in January, accounting for 56.1 percent of total exports.

Meanwhile, imports of large commodity goods, such as iron ore and crude oil, continued to grow in January, featuring general price rises.