China’s imports and exports in the first quarter of 2018

China Foto Press | Getty Images

Containers are stacked at a port on March 1, 2016 in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province of China

China’s exports denominated in yuan rose 7.4 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, the General Administration of Customs said on Friday.

Yuan-denominated imports rose 11.7 percent over the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 326.18 billion yuan ($51.85 billion) for the first quarter. Trade figures as yet for the month of March were not as yet released.

Customs is expected to release dollar-denominated trade data later on Friday.

China’s trade performance has got off to a strong start this year, following through on a solid rebound in 2017, thanks to sustained demand at home and abroad.

But the export outlook is being clouded by an escalating trade dispute with the United States, which could disrupt its shipments and supply chains, while a cooling property market may curb China’s demand for imported raw materials such as iron ore.

Separately, China’s dollar-denominated trade surplus with the United States rose 19.4 percent in the first quarter.

—CNBC contributed to this report.