SHANGHAI, Sept 4 (Reuters) - China may record a smallertrade surplus of $150 billion in 2010 as imports will likelyrise in the next few months while exports growth slows, theofficial China Securities Journal reported on Saturday.

The rebound in imports is due mainly to rising demand forraw materials as the destocking cycle comes to an end, WangZixian, deputy director of the policy research office of theMinistry of Commerce, was quoted by the Securities Journal assaying.

China recorded a trade surplus of $196 billion in 2009.

(Reporting by Soo Ai Peng; Editing by David Fox) (aipeng.soo@thomsonreuters.com; +86 21 6104 1763; ReutersMessaging: aipeng.soo@thomsonreuters.com@thomsonreuters.net) (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an emailto news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)