China's exports increased at a faster-than-expected pace in June, the General Administration of Customs said Thursday.

In dollar terms, exports grew 11.3 percent year-over-year in June, faster than the 8.9 percent rise economists had forecast.

Similarly, imports surged 17.2 percent in June from a year ago, bigger than the expected growth of 14.5 percent.

The trade surplus totaled $42.8 billion in June versus the expected surplus of $42.6 billion.