BEIJING - China's exports improved slightly in August, indicating prolonged weakness in the global economy, according to data released Monday by the General Administration of Customs.
Exports increased 2.7 percent year-on-year to $177.97 billion in August, up from 1 percent recorded in July but marking a sharp drop from 11.3 percent growth in June.
Imports dropped for the third consecutive month, falling 2.6 percent from a year earlier to $151.31 billion in August.
The trade surplus rose moderately to $26.66 billion in August from $25.2 billion the previous month, according to the GAC data.
China's trade with the European Union, its largest trade partner, dropped 1.9 percent year-on-year in the January-August period to $365.05 billion, figures show.
During the period, trade with Japan dipped 1.4 percent from a year earlier to $218.7 billion.
Meanwhile, trade with the United States, the country's second-largest trade partner, climbed 9.6 percent year-on-year to $312.97 billion in the first eight months, according to the GAC.