Beijing - China's exports saw the fastest growth in 19 months, expanding by 15.3 percent from a year ago to USD 213.7 billion in September, a report said.

Imports increased 7 percent year on year to USD 182.7 billion and total foreign trade volume rose 11.3 percent to USD 396.4 billion, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said.

The growth rate in imports in September also marked the highest level since December 2013, GAC report said.

Trade surplus in September more than doubled from last year to USD 31 billion, compared with USD 49.8 billion seen in August.

For the January-September period, China's foreign trade added 3.3 percent year-on-year to reach USD 3.16 trillion, with exports up 5.1 percent at USD 1.7 trillion imports up 1.3 percent at USD 1.46 trillion.

Trade surplus in the first three quarters expanded by 37.8 percent from previous year to USD 231.6 billion, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. (PTI)