China's trade surplus more than doubled to $US31.0 billion ($A33.54 billion) in September, official data shows, with exports jumping and imports increasing more slowly.
Exports from the world's second-biggest economy rose 15.3 per cent year-on-year to $US213.7 billion, the General Administration of Customs announced on Monday, while imports climbed 7.0 per cent to $US182.7 billion.
The surplus was lower than August's record $US49.8 billion, and also came in below expectations of $US42 billion in a poll of 15 economists by Dow Jones Newswires.
But the rise in exports accelerated from August's 9.4 per cent and was ahead of the median forecast of 12.5 per cent.
The survey had predicted a fall of 2.4 per cent in imports, matching a surprise decline in August.
Customs spokesman Zheng Yuesheng attributed the improvement to major economies recovering and external demand strengthening.
"The good momentum is expected to continue in the fourth quarter," he added.
The positive figures are the latest contradictory indicator for China's economy, a key driver of global growth.
Recent data have suggested expansion in China - which stood at 7.7 per cent last year, maintaining its slowest growth in more than a decade - is weakening even after authorities took limited stimulatory measures.
Industrial production slowed sharply in August to its lowest level for more than five years, official data said last month, while house prices have fallen for five consecutive months.
Officials are targeting economic growth of "about 7.5 per cent" this year, the same as last year's objective.
The goal is normally exceeded but senior officials have repeatedly sought to play down its significance this year.
Last week the World Bank cut its forecast for Chinese growth to 7.4 per cent for 2014 and 7.2 per cent for 2015, while the International Monetary Fund left its predictions unchanged at 7.4 per cent and 7.1 per cent warned of "near-term growth risks", especially in real estate.
In the third quarter, exports rose 12.8 per cent year-on-year while imports crept up 0.9 per cent, Customs said without giving totals.
For the first three quarters, China recorded a total trade surplus of $US231.6 billion, the statement said, up 37.8 per cent year-on-year.
Exports climbed 5.1 per cent over the nine-month period to $US1.7 trillion, while imports rose 1.3 per cent to $US1.46 trillion.
Trade with the European Union was up 10.2 per cent at 2.81 trillion yuan ($A497.70 billion), 14.5 per cent of the total, and up 5.2 per cent with the US to 2.48 trillion yuan, 12.8 per cent of the total.
But bilateral trade with Hong Kong fell 13 per cent year-on-year to 1.61 trillion yuan.
With Japan it crept up 0.4 per cent to 1.43 trillion yuan.
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