(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) ijing April 10 - China's exports slumped 6.6% to 170.11 billion US dollars in March customs data showed on Thursday raising fresh concerns over the health of the trade sector and strength of the country's economy. Imports were down 11.3% to 162.41 billion US dollars and total foreign trade volume declined 9% to 332.52 billion US dollars the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said. The trade balance returned to a surplus of 7.71 billion US dollars in March after a deficit of 22.98 billion US dollars the previous month the administration said. GAC spokesman Zheng Yuesheng played down any concerns about exports attributing the drop to a high base figure in the corresponding period last year. Exports this time last year were significantly inflated by rampant over-invoicing to disguise capital flows sending exports up by more than 20% year on year in the first quarter of 2013 previous figures showed. China's (Xinhua) news agency quoted Zheng as saying that the declining trend will be temporary and he is optimistic about trade performance in the second quarter. "China's foreign trade will recover in May" he said. Thursday's figures also showed that China's total foreign trade volume declined 1% year on year to 965.88 billion US dollars in the first three months. Exports decreased 3.4% year on year while imports went up 1.6% during the period with the trade surplus standing at 16.74 billion US dollars in the three-month period. China set a trade growth target of 7.5% this year lower than the 8% aim for 2013 and actual expansion of 7.6%
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