Chinese exports defied expectations in December to rise 2.3% from a year ago in yuan-denominated terms.
Forecasts were predicting a 4.1% fall in exports, but a weakening currency may have boosted the lagging sector.
Imports also beat expectations in yuan-dominated terms to only fall 4%, compared to forecasts of a 7.9% slump.
The jump in exports was the first rise since June last year as the sector has been battered by slowing demand and slumping commodity prices.
For the year, exports fell 1.8%, while imports tumbled 13.2% from 2014.
China's customs spokesman Huang Songping said at a news conference in Beijing that the country's exports fell last year due to weak external demand.
Trade figures in US dollar-denominated terms came out later in the day and were also better-than-expected. Exports fell 1.4%, compared to forecasts of an 8% fall, while imports declined 7.6% against expectations of an 11.5% decline.