Beijing, Nov 8 (IANS): Chinese exports reversed its decline and rose 5.6 percent year-on-year in October to $185.4 billion, customs data showed Friday.

The country's exports fell 0.3 percent in September from a year earlier, ending two months consecutive rise, according to the General Administration of Customs, reports Xinhua.

Imports rose 7.6 percent last month compared to the same period last year, accelerating from September's 7.4-percent rise.

This left the country with a trade surplus of 192.38 billion yuan in October, down 3.3 percent year-on-year basis.

During the first 10 months of 2013, exports and imports gained 7.6 percent from a year earlier, with the trade surplus growing 12 percent year-on-year to 1.25 trillion yuan.

Trade with the European Union, the nation's largest trade partner, climbed 0.5 percent year-on-year during the January-October period, compared with a 0.8 percent decrease registered in the first nine months of 2013.

Trade with the US, China's second-largest trade partner, rose 6.9 percent during the first 10 months, while that with Association of Southeast Asian Nations members increased 10.9 percent.

Trade with Japan, however, declined 7 percent.