Chinese exports fell sharply in June amid weak demand and a raft of uncertainties facing the global economy.

Exports fell 4.8pc compared with a year earlier, according to official data, while imports dropped by 8.4pc, against expectations of a 5pc decline.

Huang Songping, a spokesman for China's customs administration, described the data as "grim and complex".

He said downward pressure on the world's second largest economy remained "relatively large".

Figures this week are expected to show China's economy expanded in the second quarter of 2016 at the weakest pace since the financial crisis.

Economists believe China grew at an annual pace of 6.6pc between April and June, following growth of 6.7pc in the first three months of the year.

Wednesday's data showed exports to the US, which is China's biggest export market, fell by almost 10pc in the first half of 2016 compared with the same period a year ago. Exports to the EU fell 4.4pc.

Mr Huang said the world faced "many uncertainties" including uncertainty surrounding the impact of Brexit on the global economy.