China's exports surged 18.7 percent year-on-year in March to 1.05 trillion yuan (around $160 billion), authorities said Wednesday, in a positive sign for the world's second-largest economy. 

Imports slipped 1.7 percent on-year to 855.5 billion yuan, Customs said, while the trade surplus leaped to 194.6 billion yuan, more than 13 times the figure for the same month last year.