Trade between China and Russia in the first three quarters topped 28.04 billion U.S. dollars, down 34.9 percent from the same period last year, said a report from the General Administration of Customs of China Monday.

Chinese exports to Russia in the first nine months stood at 12.01 billion U.S. dollars, down 48.9 percent year on year, and imports stood at 16.03 billion U.S. dollars, down 17.9 percent year on year.

Trade between the two countries topped 4.07 billion U.S. dollars in September, down 25.8 percent from the same period last year, but up 19.9 percent from August.

Chinese exports last month stood at 1.77 billion U.S. dollars, down 45.6 percent year on year, and imports stood at 2.3 billion U.S. dollars, up 3.2 percent year on year.

"The month-on-month trade increase in September indicates trade between China and Russia has finished an adjustment period and is ready for recovery," said Zheng Yuesheng, director of the administration's Department of Statistics.

Trade between China and Russia topped 56.83 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, up 18 percent from the previous year, according to the administration.