China's exports accelerate in March, import growth moderates

FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2016 file photo, trucks line up at a container port in Qingdao in east China's Shandong province. China’s export growth accelerated in March in a positive sign for global demand while import growth cooled, according to customs data Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chinatopix via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

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Chinese people browse their smartphones outside a fashion retail store in Beijing, Thursday, April 13, 2017. China's export growth accelerated in March in a positive sign for global demand, though import growth cooled. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (The Associated Press)

An Apple employee, left, teaches customers how to operate iPhone at its retail store in Beijing, Thursday, April 13, 2017. China's export growth accelerated in March in a positive sign for global demand, though import growth cooled. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (The Associated Press)

BEIJING – China's export growth accelerated in March while import growth moderated to still-robust double-digit levels in possible positive signs for Chinese economic growth and global demand.

Customs data on Thursday showed exports rose 16.4 percent from a year earlier to $180.6 billion, up from 4 percent growth in the first two months of the year. Imports rose 20.3 percent to $156.6 billion, down from the January-February rate of 26.4 percent.

The unexpectedly strong exports are a positive sign for Chinese leaders who are trying to avert job losses in trade-related industries while they try to nurture consumer-driven economic growth.