BEIJING - China's trade surplus in the first half of this year fell 18.2 percent from a year ago to reach $44.93 billion, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said on Sunday.

During the same period, total foreign trade value topped $1.7 trillion, up 25.8 percent year on year, with exports up 24 percent to reach $874.3 billion and imports surging 27.6 percent to hit $829.37 billion.

In June, exports and imports reached $301.69 billion in value, up 18.5 percent year on year.

In breakdown, June's exports hit a record monthly high of $161.98 billion, up 17.9 percent, but the rate of growth decelerated from the 19.4-percent increase in May.

Imports reached $139.71 billion, up 19.3 percent. The growth also slowed from the 28.4-percent increase in May, according to figures that are live-broadcast on the GAC's website Sunday.

GAC spokesman Zhao Fudi said it marked the first time that China's exports and imports data were published online. "It will make our figures release more timely, open, and transparent. Meanwhile, it will also promote online exchanges between us and the public," Zhao said.