CHINA'S trade surplus shrank by 53.5 percent year on year to US$6.45 billion in January, the General Administration of Customs said today.

The country's foreign trade surged by 43.9 percent year on year to US$295.01 billion in January, it said.

Exports rose by 37.7 percent year on year to US$150.73 billion while imports increased by 51 percent to US$144.28 billion.