The report from the National Bureau of Statistics of China revealed Tuesday the Chinese trade surplus expanded in July from June but narrowed compared with a year-ago surplus.

According to the report, China's exports surged 7.2 percent y-o-y in July to $200.89 billion compared to an 11.3 percent increase in the prior month and economists' forecast of a 10.9 percent growth.

Meanwhile, the country's imports rose 11.0 percent y-o-y last month to $146.58 billion after a 17.2 percent climb in June, while economists had forecast a 16.6 percent gain.

Those trade flows produced a trade surplus of $46.74 billion in July, compared to a surplus of $42.75 billion in June and $48.61billion in June 2016. Economists had expected a surplus of $46.08 billion in July.