The nation's exports fell a much faster than expected 7.5 percent in May year-on-year, while imports contracted at a slower pace, dropping 4.5 percent, customs data showed on Wednesday.

A poll of economists conducted by Reuters news agency had forecast exports to have shrunk 0.4 percent and imports to have fallen eight percent.

Having beaten expectations in the first quarter, analysts are now downgrading their expectations for the economy for the rest of the year, as factory output continues to slow amid persistent weak global demand.

Weak Chinese demand is hurting other major economies in the region. South Korean data last week showed shipments to China slid 20.8 percent in May, marking a full year of monthly declines.

China's factory activity shrank faster than expected in May on weakening demand, the official purchasing managers' index (PMI) showed last week.

The PMI subindexes for May showed factory output swung to contraction from expansion while new orders, including new exports, fell for a second month.

The government has set a modest GDP growth target of around five percent for this year, after missing its 2022 goal. (Reuters)