China's imports grew faster than expected in May, indicating the world's second largest economy's appetite for commodities remains strong.

Imports jumped 28.4 percent yea on year to 144.11 billion U.S. dollars in May, up from April's 21.8 percent increase, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said on Friday.

Imports of iron ore jumped 8.1 percent to 280 million tonnes through Jan-May, while that of the crude oil increased 11.3 percent to 106.51 million tonnes.

Exports rose 19.4 percent from a year ago to 157.16 billion U.S. dollars, down from April's 29.9 percent growth.

The trade surplus climbed in May to 13.05 billion U.S. dollars from 11.43 billion U.S. dollars in April.

In the first five months, trade surplus decreased 35.1 percent year on year to 22.97 billion U.S. dollars.

A commerce ministry official said the data suggested the nation's foreign trade was trending upwards, but conditions were complicated by high unemployment in the United States and European countries and political volatility in North Africa and the Middle East.

The Chinese government has managed to cool the economy, as fights to contain inflation.

The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) of the manufacturing sector, which measures manufacturing activities, dropped 0.9 percentage points month-on-month to 52 percent in May, falling to a nine-month low amid the government's efforts, including hiking interest rates and bank's reserve requirement ratio, to curb soaring prices.

Peng Wensheng, an economist with the China International Capital Corporation (CICC), said a sharp slowdown was unlikely, as overseas demand would not shrink to the level seen during the global financial crisis.

The gradual appreciation of the yuan also helped boost imports.

EU remains China's biggest trading partner with 218.01 billion U.S. dollars worth of trade in the first five months, up 22.9 percent year-on-year.

Trade with the United States climbed 22.3 percent to 169.52 billion dollars during the period while that with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries jumped 26 percent to 140.82 billion U.S. dollars.