BEIJING - China swung back to trade surplus in March from February's deficit of $31.48 billion, posting $670 million trade surplus in the first quarter, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said Tuesday.

The country's foreign trade in March rose 7.1 percent year-on-year to reach $325.97 billion, with a trade surplus of $5.35 billion.

Exports amounted to $165.66 billion in March, up 8.9 percent year-on-year, while imports reached $160.31 billion, the GAC data showed.

For the first quarter, China's imports and exports expanded 7.3 percent from a year ago to reach $859.37 billion, according to the GAC.