SIMIC

Exports likely rose 15 per cent from a year earlier, according to a median forecast in a Reuters poll of 25 economists, cooling from a 21.1 per cent jump in November.

"We think the recovery of global growth in previous months has likely continued to support export growth, but the higher demand for consumer goods before the holiday season may have unwound in December, which could be a small drag to export growth in December," said Goldman Sachs economists in a note.

Imports likely rose five per cent in December versus a year ago, the poll showed, still at a moderate pace but marginally higher than 4.5 per cent in the previous month. China's trade surplus is expected to have narrowed a bit to US$72.35 billion in December from $75.40 billion in November, according to the poll.