China's foreign trade stabilized in the first half of this year, though it has yet to completely recover its lost ground.

Exports increased 24 percent to $874.3 billion, while imports climbed 27.6 percent to $829.37 billion, said the General Administration of Customs (GAC). The trade surplus came in at $44.93 billion, decreasing 18.2 percent.

In June alone, exports increased 17.9 percent to $161.98 billion, and imports grew 19.3 percent to $139.71 billion.

"Uncertainties still hang over the world economy, casting an ominous shadow over exports," said Zhao Fudi, spokesman of the GAC. "Appreciation of the yuan also hurt the competitiveness of Chinese exporters."

The Chinese currency has appreciated more than 5 percent since a year ago when China decided to further reform the yuan exchange rate regime.

"Net trade is expected to have positive impact on economic growth this year," said Zhu Baoliang, chief economist with the State Information Center. "Meanwhile, China's trade surplus is shrinking, as the country makes progress toward a more balanced economy."