The country's copper imports fell for the first time this year, down 3% on the year, Bloomberg reported.

China's iron ore imports fell for a second month in November, Reuters reported, pulled down by waning restocking demand at steel mills as profit margins narrow.

Bloomberg said the weakness in China's exports explained part of the sharp slowdown in imports, but weaker domestic demand was also at play - underlining a struggling economy.

"Although the resumption of trade negotiations between China and the US may reduce the risk of further escalation of trade friction, China's domestic and external demand are under downward pressure," China International Capital Corporation economist Liu Liu wrote in a note, the wire service said.

Base metal futures were all lower in Asian trade this morning.