China's trade surplus narrows as Lunar New Year slows exports CHINA'S trade surplus narrowed in February to $US15.25 billion from $US29.15 billion in January, compared with a median deficit of $US16.0 billion forecast by 13 economists in a Dow Jones Newswires survey. Exports rose 21.8 per cent in February from the same month a year earlier, data from the General Administration of Customs showed Friday. This was slower than January's 25.0 per cent rise, but much quicker than economists' median forecast rise of a 5.0 per cent.