China's export growth slowed to 11.6% in October from a year earlier, beating analysts' expectations, data from the General Administration of Customs showed Saturday. October's export growth was down from September's 15.3% growth but higher than a median forecast of 10.0% from 11 economists polled by The Wall Street Journal. China's exports have been rising since April, largely reflecting stronger global economic growth, but some economists have questioned whether the nation's export figures were inflated by over-invoicing in recent months. This kind of data distortion emerged last year as exporters tried to sidestep foreign exchange rules to bring funds onshore. Imports rose 4.6% from a year earlier, following a 7.0% rise in September. Economists were forecasting an increase of 5.0% in imports. China's trade surplus widened in October to $45.4 billion from $30.9 billion in September and surpassed a median forecast of a $42.3 billion surplus. --Liyan Qi