China's surplus rises sharply

China's trade surplus rose in December from a month earlier as exports grew faster than imports despite uncertainties in the global economy, the Chinese customs office said Tuesday. Last month, the world's No. 2 economy saw its trade surplus jump 13.7 percent on-month to US$16.5 billion from $14.5 billion in November, according to the General Administration of Customs. Exports increased 13.4 percent on-year to $174.72 billion, while imports rose 11.8 percent to $158.2 billion over the cited period. The monthly growth in exports was largely attributed to stronger demand from the emerging markets, which offset weaker demand in major trading partners such as the United States and Europe. China's foreign trade in 2011 surged 22.5 percent from a year earlier to $3.64 trillion, the customs office said. The country's annual trade surplus narrowed 14.5 percent on-year to $155.14 billion last year. The figure has shrunk for three consecutive years from $295.47 billion in 2008, $196.07 billion in 2009 and $183.1 billion in 2010.