BEIJING -- China's foreign trade surged 22.5 percent in 2011 from a year earlier to $3.64 trillion, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said Tuesday.

The country's annual trade surplus narrowed 14.5 percent year on year to $155.14 billion in 2011, the administration said.

The figure has shrunk from $295.47 billion in 2008, $196.07 billion in 2009, and $183.1 billion in 2010.

Exports rose 20.3 percent year on year to reach $1.9 trillion last year, while imports grew 24.9 percent to $1.74 trillion, the GAC said.

In December alone, the country's exports totaled $174.72 billion, up 13.4 percent year on year. Imports increased 11.8 percent year on year to $158.2 billion.