China has surpassed Germany to become the world's largest exporting country in 2009, according to China's Ministry of Commerce, a national daily reported Friday.

According to China Daily, Chinese exports from China totaled 957 billion yuan ($140 billion) from January to October last year, while Germany lagged behind with 917 billion yuan ($134 billion).

Trading in the last two months of the year is not expected to make a difference, according to a Geneva-based global trade service company, cited by the Wall Street Journal.

"Germany's export was reportedly affected by the global financial crisis and recovered slowly," the paper wrote.

The Federation of German Industries (BDI) predicted its export will increase 4% this year and needs another four years to fully recover.

BEIJING, January 8 (RIA Novosti)