China’s annual trade surplus rose nearly 13 per cent year-on-year to some $260 billion last year as export growth continued to outpace import growth, the government said on Friday.

Exports were valued at $2.21 trillion, up 7.9 per cent year-on-year, while imports rose 7.3 per cent to $1.95 trillion, customs data showed.

Total trade value increased by 7.6 per cent in 2013 to $4.16 trillion, the General Administration of Customs reported.