Exports from and imports to China struggled last month as worsening Covid outbreaks reduced demand, undermined production and disrupted logistics.
Export growth in April in slowed to 3.9 percent in US dollar terms from a year earlier, compared with an increase in March of 14.7 percent.
This the weakest growth rate since June 2020.
Imports were unchanged in April after falling by 0.1 percent in the previous month. Economists had expected a 3 percent decline.