Chinese trade

Exports from the world's third largest economy fell to $115.9bn (£73bn), which was down 15.2% from September 2008, but the smallest fall in nine months.

China's $596bn stimulus package has helped prop up its economy, but it needs a global recovery to boost trade.

Imports fell 3.5% to $103bn, which was the smallest decline since imports began to slide in November 2008.

China's trade surplus stood at $135.5bn (£85bn) for the first nine months of 2009, falling 26% compared with the same period a year ago, according to the General Administration of Customs.

"Exports are improving but not so much, bearing in mind that the Lehman shock was September of last year, which created a meaningful statistical base," said Dong Tao, an economist at Credit Suisse in Hong Kong.

"Overall, export performance will be much better in the months to come. I think it's going to be sustainable and it's going to accelerate.

"There are some rush orders coming to China for Christmas, so I expect probably a pretty strong rebound in November and December," he said.

China's Vice Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan recently said that China's exporters were still facing a tough time.

To support exporters, China has raised value added tax rebates on exports several times in the past year, increased tax refunds and improved export credit insurance.

The central bank has also effectively halted the yuan's rise against the dollar since July 2008.