CHINA'S trade growth decelerated sharply in June as a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy deepened despite stimulus efforts.

Import growth fell by half from May’s level to 6.3%, data showed, reflecting weak Chinese consumer and industrial demand.

Export growth declined to 11.3% from May’s 15.3% amid weakness in China’s key European and US markets.

China’s slowing demand for oil, iron ore and other foreign goods is bad news for economies that had been looking to relatively strong Chinese growth to help drive global sales.

“The import slowdown was greater than expected,” said Moody’s analytics economist Alaistair Chan in a report. As for foreign demand, “it is increasingly clear that exports will not be much of a boost to China’s economy for some time”.

China’s economic growth has fallen to its lowest level since the 2008 global crisis due to anaemic demand for exports and government efforts to cool overheating and inflation.

Premier Wen Jiabao warned last weekend the economy faces further pressure to slow, suggesting Beijing might be considering more stimulus.

It has reduced petrol prices and is pumping money into the economy through spending on building low-cost housing, airports and other public works. Analysts expect a rebound in its growth later this year.