China's exports surged by nearly 50 percent in May, exceeding most analysts' forecasts and producing a monthly trade surplus of $19.5 billion.

Exports to the 27-nation European Union — China's largest trading partner — were up 34.4 percent in the month from a year earlier, while exports to the United States rose 24.8 percent. China's politically sensitive trade surplus with the United States was $16.7 billion.

Those numbers will likely weaken considerably in coming months due to a slow recovery in European countries saddled with large amounts of sovereign debt, along with rising labor costs and higher commodity prices, Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian told reporters at a news conference.

"Europe is our country's largest trading partner. Given the murky and not at all optimistic climate, the stability of our trading policy is paramount," Yao said.

Exports to Europe, whose debt problems are expected to hurt consumer spending, grew by 34.4 percent from January to May, the ministry said. China's overall exports shot up 48.5 percent in May alone to $131.7 billion, while imports rose 48.3 percent.

The strong trade figures have rekindled concerns that Washington and other governments will renew pressure on Beijing to let its currency rise. The yuan has been frozen against the dollar since late 2008 to help China's exporters compete amid weak global demand but its trading partners say that is distorting trade.

Analysts expect the yuan to rise this year but say China's leaders will act only once it is clear global demand has recovered.

Chinese officials have cited the decline in the euro's value as a major headache for the nation's exporters, making Chinese products more expensive in Europe and contributing to sentiment against allowing the yuan to rise.