Beijing - China's monthly trade surplus hit a new peak in October despite slowing export growth amid the global financial crisis, the government said on Tuesday.

Exports were valued at 128.3 billion dollars and imports at 93.1 billion dollars, giving a record trade surplus of 35.2 billion dollars for the month, the Chinese customs administration reported.

The growth of monthly exports slowed to 19.2 per cent in October, from 21.5 per cent in September, under the influence of the global economic slowdown.

But the trade surplus rose again because of a gradual drop in the expansion of China's imports from 33.7 per cent in July to 15.6 per cent in October.

The monthly trade surplus has risen for the past four months after falling earlier in the year, according to Chinese customs statistics. (dpa)