Beijing - China's exports fell in March for the fifth month in a row as its manufacturers suffered through plummeting overseas demand during the global recession. Exports fell 17.1 per cent from the same month last year to 90.29 billion dollars while imports were also down
25.1 per cent to 71.73 billion dollars, the official news agency Xinhua reported, citing the General Administration of Customs.

The statistics showed that the total value of China's imports and exports in March was 162.02 billion dollars, down 20.9 per cent.

The fall in China's exports hit a record in February, when they saw a 25.1-per-cent year-on-year drop.

March exports rose 32.8 per cent from February while imports saw a 14-per-cent month-on-month rise.

China's trade surplus expanded at 41.2 per cent from March 2008 to 18.56 billion dollars. (dpa)