China's trade surplus fell 9.1 per cent in 2016 to 3.35 trillion yuan ($486 billion), according to annual figures released on Friday.
The foreign trade volume in yuan fell by 0.9 per cent last year, to a total of 24.33 trillion yuan, Efe news reported.
Chinese exports in yuan fell by 2 per cent, while imports rose by 0.6 per cent in 2016, the figures showed.
December recorded a year-on-year increase of 0.6 per cent in Chinese exports, as compared to the 5.9 per cent rise seen in the previous month, while imports grew 10.8 per cent against the 13 per cent growth in November.
In a first reaction to the data, economic research consultancy firm Capital Economics said the slowdown in Chinese foreign trade was of concern, especially considering the recovery in global demand in December 2016.
--IANS
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