BEIJING, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- China posted a larger trade deficit in farm produce in the first seven months of 2019, official data showed.

Farm produce trade deficit increased 13.7 percent year on year to reach 41.5 billion U.S. dollars in the January-July period, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Imports stood at 84.8 billion dollars, up 4.4 percent year on year, while exports dipped 3.1 percent to 43.3 billion dollars.

Total trade in farm produce grew 1.7 percent year on year to 128.1 billion dollars in the period, the ministry said on its website.