CNBC said that China reported that its dollar-denominated exports and imports both fell from a year ago in March, but they were better than what economists had expected.

China's exports fell 6.6% in March from a year ago, while imports slipped 0.9% in the same month, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Tuesday.

Economists had expected exports from China to fall 14% in March from a year ago, while imports were projected to fall 9.5% over the same period.

The country's March trade surplus was $19.9 billion, as compared with the $18.55 billion that economists had expected.

Earlier this year, China reported combined trade data for the months of January and February.

Over the two months, exports fell 17.2% from a year ago while imports fell 4% as the coronavirus outbreak put the brakes on the world's second largest economy.