China's foreign trade volume dipped by six percent year on year in the first quarter to 5.54 trillion yuan (902.3billion U.S. dollars), official data showed on Monday.

Exports rose by 4.9 percent from a year earlier to 3.15 trillion yuan, while imports shrank by 17.3 percent to 2.39 trillion yuan, according to data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

Trade surplus exploded 6.1 times to 755.3 billion yuan in the first three months.

In March, foreign trade decreased by 13.5 percent over the previous year, with exports and imports dropping by 14.6 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively.

Trade surplus in March narrowed by 62.6 percent to 18.2 billion yuan.

After discounting the seasonal factors, total trade volume last month declined even further by 15.9 percent, mainly dragged down by a 25.1-percent import drop.