China's exports, imports slump contracts in September

Outbound shipments in September declined 6.2pc from a year ago

(Reuters) - China’s exports and imports shrank at a slower pace for a second month in September, customs data showed on Friday, adding to the recent signs of a gradual stabilisation in the world’s second-biggest economy thanks to a raft of policy support measures.

Outbound shipments in September declined 6.2 per cent from a year ago, following a drop of 8.8pc in August, and beating economists’ forecast for a 7.6pc fall in a Reuters poll.

Thanks to gradual recovery in domestic demand, imports also fell at a slower pace, down 6.2pc.

They missed the 6.0pc decline forecast in the poll, but came in better than a 7.3pc contraction in August.