BEIJING — China announced Wednesday that its exports climbed 46 percent in February from a year earlier, a sign that economists said signaled a rebound in consumer demand from the United States and other Western markets.

It was the third consecutive month of increases in Chinese exports and the fastest growth in three years. Orders from the United States, the European Union and Japan accounted for almost half of the growth, after demand from emerging markets rose in the previous two months.

Chinese imports increased 45 percent over last year, led by crude oil, after factories stepped up production.

Some economists said the figures indicated China’s recovery was well under way. Tao Wang, head of China research for UBS Securities, predicted that Chinese exports would rebound to the level of 2008, before China was hurt by the global financial crisis.