Exports rose a much faster than expected 19.5% in March from a year earlier, boosted by surging shipments of gold and electronics, Customs Department data showed on Friday.
That compares with a forecast for a rise of 2.4% in March in a Reuters poll and February's 16.2% increase.
Imports rose 18% year-on-year in March, also beating a forecast 8.9% increase in the poll and resulting in a trade surplus of US$1.46 billion in the month.
