China overtakes Germany as world's top exporter

China overtook Germany as the world's top exporter last year,data compiled by Global Trade Information Services Inc. show.

China shipped products worth $958 billion in the first 10 monthsof 2009, while Germany sold goods worth $918 billion to customersabroad, according to an Internet database operated by Columbia, S.C.-based GTI. Exports from China exceeded German shipments every monthsince April last year.

China has already slipped past Germany to become the world'sthird-largest economy and is forecast to overtake Japan this year,assuming the No. 2 spot behind the United States. Exports havedriven a 15-fold increase in China's economy to more than $3.8trillion since the nation opened its doors to foreign trade andinvestment in 1978.