Analysts in a Reuters poll had expected exports to rise 3.2% after a 14.7% increase last March.
Imports were expected to decline 3.0% after declining 0.1% in the previous month.
China recorded a trade surplus of 51.12 billion dollars last April, compared to expectations of a surplus of 50.65 billion dollars in the poll.
The country recorded a surplus of $47.38 billion in the previous March.