China's exports and imports shrank for the sixth month in row in April, the General Administration of Customs said on Tuesday.

Exports fell 22.6 percent in April from the same period a year ago to $91.94 billion. Imports were down 23 percent to $78.8 billion.

The trade surplus was $13.14 billion.

A CITIC Securities analyst said the weakening global economic outlook, depreciation of major Asian currencies, as well as the resurgence of protectionism continued to impede China's exports. It is likely to continue throughout the first half of the year, said the analyst.

The combined foreign trade in April was worth $170.73 billion, down 22.8 percent year on year, but that was up 10.4 percent from that for March.

Exports in the four months to April totaled $337.42 billion, down 20.5 percent, and imports went down 28.7 percent to $261.99 billion over the same period.