BEIJING - China's exports improved slightly in August, indicating prolonged weakness in the global economy, data from General Administration of Customs showed Monday.

Exports increased 2.7 percent year-on-year to $177.97 billion in August, slightly up from 1 percent recorded in July, which dropped sharply from a growth of 11.3 percent in June.

Imports dropped for the third consecutive months, down 2.6 percent from a year earlier to $151.3 billion in August.

Trade surplus rose moderately to $26.66 billion in August from $25.2 billion the previous month, according to the GAC data.