The fast growth of imports and the slower pace of export growth resulted in a trade deficit in February this year, the first monthly deficit since March 2010. China recorded a trade deficit of $7.3 billion in February, said the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on March 10.

In the first two months this year, China posted a trade deficit of $890 million, as January's trade surplus halved year on year to $6.45 billion.

The GAC attributed the deficit to the week-long Spring Festival break (February 2-8), saying the holiday had led to a decrease in exports.

China's foreign trade rose by 10.6 percent year on year to $200.78 billion in February, with exports growing by 2.4 percent year on year to $96.74 billion while imports surged by 19.4 percent to $104.04 billion.

The EU remained China's largest trade partner during this period, followed by the United States and Japan.

China is expected to register trade deficits in several months this year as the growth of imports would likely outpace that of exports.