Chinas trade surplus falls 11.8 percent in first half- Xinhua

BEIJING (AFP) - China's trade surplus reached 99 billion dollars in the first half of 2008, down 11.8 percent from the same period last year, Xinhua news agency reported Thursday, citing the customs bureau.

The trade surplus between January and June this year was 13.21 billion dollars less than the same period last year, it said.

Total trade in the first half rose by 25.7 percent to 1.23 trillion dollars, up 25.7 percent from the same period last year.