China’s exports and imports rose faster than expected in September, providing a modicum of good news as the world’s second-largest economy searches for sources of growth to meet its 7.5% annual target. Exports have been a rare source of economic strength in recent months fueled by growing global demand, even as weak real estate sales, industrial production and fixed asset investment in China drag down growth. China’s customs agency said Monday it expects stronger exports and imports to continue in the fourth quarter. “These are very heartening numbers,” said ING economist Tim Condon. “It looks like exports have ratcheted up.” But economists said trade figures have been volatile and it is too early to suggest that domestic demand in China is turning around. Exports rose 15.3% in September from a year earlier, according to data from the General Administration of Customs. September’s export growth exceeded August’s 9.4% growth and was higher than the median forecast of 12.5% by The Wall Street Journal’s poll of 15 economists. China’s exports have been rising since April as the U.S. economy started to pick up, along with demand from parts of Asia and Europe. Imports in September rose 7% from a year earlier, following a 2.4% decline in August. Economists were forecasting a drop of 2.4%. Increased imports saw China’s trade surplus narrow in September to $31 billion from $49.8 billion in August, which was below a median forecast for the surplus of $42 billion. via