China's exports and imports rose marginally in April, official data showed Thursday, rebounding from sharp declines the month before, with the country reporting a second straight trade surplus.

Exports rose 0.9% to US$188.54bil year-on-year, the General Administration of Customs announced, while imports rose 0.8% to US$170.09bil, resulting in a surplus of US$18.45bil.

The figures come a month after Customs reported that China's trade volumes fell dramatically in March, which analysts blamed on the continued impact of fake reporting of exports seen in early 2013.

In March imports slumped 11.3% year-on-year to US$162.4bil while exports fell 6.6% to US$170.1bil, for a trade surplus of US$7.7bil.

China had recorded an unexpected trade deficit of almost US$23bil in February, which authorities blamed on the Lunar New Year holiday season. That result was China's first monthly deficit in 11 months.

China's economy grew 7.4% in the first three months of 2014, weaker than the 7.7% in October-December last year and the worst since a similar 7.4% expansion in the third quarter of 2012.