CHINA’S exports rose more than forecast in August while imports unexpectedly fell, pushing the trade surplus to a record high for the second consecutive month and underlining the challenges facing policymakers as they struggle to revive tepid domestic demand.

    Exports rose 9.4 percent in August, the General Administration of Customs said yesterday, beating a forecast rise of 8 percent, but slower than July’s 14.5 percent growth rate.

    But imports fell 2.4 percent in terms of value, which led to an all-time high trade surplus of US$49.8 billion, exceeding forecasts for a surplus of US$40 billion.

    It was the second straight month that China’s import growth has been unexpectedly weak, raising concerns that sluggish domestic demand exacerbated by a cooling housing market is increasingly dragging on growth in the world’s second-biggest economy.

    China’s economy has had a bumpy ride this year. Growth slowed to an 18-month low of 7.4 percent in the first quarter and rebounded only slightly to 7.5 percent between April and June after a flurry of government stimulus measures.

    The export sector was surprisingly buoyant in July when growth jumped to a 15-month high, pushing the trade surplus to a record US$47.3 billion. The upbeat performance was helped in part by a strengthening U.S. economy, China’s top export destination.

    But risks posed by the cooling property sector have dimmed any optimism brought on by perkier foreign demand.

    Accounting for about 15 percent of China’s economic output, the real estate market is experiencing its worst downturn in two years as sales and prices turned south.

    (SD-Agencies)