Xinhua cited the customs office for its report, which points to a surplus for December alone of US$24.1 billion based on the surplus for first 11 months of US$238.1 billion.

Dow Jones earlier reported the US$262.2 billion figure for the whole year but put the December surplus as US$22.69 billion. Both could be correct, depending on whether customs has made year-end statistical adjustments to previous months' figures.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected a December surplus of US$24.5 billion. -- REUTERS