CHINA's exports soared in October and its trade surplus ballooned, official data showed, just days after Donald Trump won the US presidential election with promises of sweeping tariffs to suppress imports from China, reports London's Financial Times.

Chinese president Xi Jinping called President Trump to congratulate him on his electoral victory, according to Chinese state news agency, Xinhua.

President Xi told Mr Trump the world's two largest powers would "benefit from co-operation and suffer from confrontation," it reported.

But analysts and bankers said soaring export figures are expected to inflame tensions between the US administration and Beijing, sparking new tariffs and stimulus resulting in a sharp depreciation of the yuan.

China's central bank set its official exchange rate against the dollar at the lowest level in a year.

The October export surge was probably partly because "the prospect of a Trump victory" and anticipated tariffs spurred exporters to front-load shipments, said Shuang Ding, head of greater China economic research at Standard Chartered.