BEIJING, October 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russian-Chinese trade fell almost 34.9% to $28.04 billion in the first nine months of 2009, Xinhua said on Monday, citing data from China's customs authorities.

Russian exports to China declined 48.9% to $12.01 billion, while Chinese exports to Russia slid 17.9% to $16.03 billion.

Trade in September was 19.9% higher than in August, reaching $4.07 billion, but down 19.9% year-on-year.

"The month-on-month trade increase in September indicates that trade between China and Russia has finished an adjustment period and is ready for recovery," the agency quoted Zheng Yuesheng, director of the General Administration of Customs' statistics department as saying.

Trade between the countries stood at $56.83 billion last year, up 18% from 2007.