China’s trade surplus hit a monthly all-time high of US$28.7 billion in August – but this was caused by a sharp slowdown in imports rather than any signifi cant movement in export numbers, AFP reported. The previous record for the trade surplus was US$27.1 billion, set in October 2007. Total imports came in at US$106.2 billion in August, up just 23.1 per cent year-on-year. Import growth was 33.7 per cent in the previous month. Exports rose 21.1 per cent to US$134.9 billion, compared to year-on-year growthof 26.9 per cent in July.