China's April exports grow 1.5%, imports increase 8.4%

BEIJING, May 9 (Reuters) - China's April exports grew 1.5% year-on-year, while imports increased 8.4%, customs data showed on Thursday, suggesting demand at home and abroad may be slowly returning in a boost to the economic recovery.

A Reuters poll of economists had forecast exports would increase 1.5%, after outbound shipments contracted 7.5% in March, and imports to grow 4.8%, compared with a contraction of 1.9% the month prior.

China posted a trade surplus of $72.35 billion in April, compared with a $77.50 billion surplus expected in the poll. (Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)