Chinese export growth slowed in August, official data showed Friday, coming in below expectations as weak global demand weighs on the world's second largest economy.

Exports rose 5.5 percent year-on-year, the customs administration said, down from a 7.2 percent increase in the previous month and missing a Bloomberg News forecast of 6.0 percent.

Imports climbed 13.3 percent, beating an expected increase of 10.0 percent, and leaving a $42.0 billion trade surplus for the month.