China's trade surplus dropped sharply in August from a month earlier as exports declined while imports slightly increased, the country's customs authorities said Friday.
The nation's trade surplus stood at US$20.3 billion in August, down 30.4 percent from $28.7 billion the previous month, according to the Web site of the General Administration of Customs.
The figure was at a similar level with $20.02 billion in June.
On an annual basis, exports rose 34.4 percent to $139.3 billion last month, and imports climbed 35.2 percent to $119.2 billion, said the customs
bureau.
Exports fell 4.5 percent on-month in August from $145.5 billion in July, while imports rose 2 percent from $116.8 billion.