The report from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) revealed Tuesday the Chinese trade surplus expanded in August from July as well as compared with a year-ago surplus.

According to the report, China’s exports surged 25.6 percent y-o-y in August to $294.32 billion compared to a 19.3 percent increase in the prior month and economists’ forecast of a 17.1 percent gain.

Meanwhile, the country’s imports jumped 33.1 percent y-o-y last month to $235.98 billion after a 28.1 percent climb in July, while economists had forecast a 26.8 percent rise.

These trade flows produced a trade surplus of $58.34 billion in August, compared to a revised surplus of $56.59 billion in July (originally a surplus of $56.58) and $57.25 billion in August 2020. This was the largest trade surplus since January. Economists had expected a trade surplus of $51.05 billion in August.