Exports from East China's Zhejiang province rose 13.1 percent in April, led by the private sector and e-commerce, local customs said on Thursday.

Exports in April rose to 146 billion yuan ($22 billion). The rise brings export growth in the province during the first four months back into positive territory, at 0.3 percent, compared to a decline of 4.1 percent in the first quarter.

Total trade volume for the first four months stands at 638.4 billion yuan, down 0.9 percent from the same period a year ago. Imports fell 5.2 percent year-on-year to 134 billion yuan.

The increase is driven largely by private companies, over 70 percent of the total, growing 5.1 percent between January and April, compared with a decline of 14.1 percent for the state sector.

Cross-border e-commerce has defied slowing trade growth, up more than 300 percent in the same period.