Imports tumbled 8.7 percent in November, the 13th monthly drop in a row. The decrease came despite a surge in imported copper, iron ore, crude oil and coal.
Analysts argued buyers most likely simply took advantage of a fresh slump in commodity prices. But by value, China`s imports from the US, the European Union and Japan all dropped, with goods imported from Australia experiencing a slump by a double-digit rate.
"China`s trade performance remains weak as the trade value is likely to drop by 8 percent for the whole of 2015," Commerzbank economist Zhou Hao said in a statement.
"This comes versus an increase of 3.7 percent in 2014, clearly reflecting a deleveraging process in the manufacturing sector," he added.
Analysts said China was struggling to meet its growth target of about 7 percent in 2015 amid sluggish investment and falling exports.
Beijing is expected to continue its fiscal stimulus measures on growing concerns over the slowing of the emerging economy.
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