The nation's exports shrank in October, the first such decline since mid-2020, customs authorities said on Monday, as a domestic slowdown and the threat of global recession hit international trade.

Exports fell 0.3 percent year-on-year in October, according to the General Administration of Customs, a steep drop from September's 5.7 percent increase.

Year-on-year imports were down 0.7 percent in October, negative for the first time since March this year and down from September's 0.3 percent growth.

China's factory activity also shrank in October, official data showed last week, which the National Bureau of Statistics blamed on virus outbreaks last month. (AFP)