Berlin - German exports slumped by 2.5 per cent year on year in August to record their biggest fall in five years, the country's statistics office said Thursday, adding to signs of contracting global growth.

In calendar and seasonally adjusted terms, the world's leading export nation recorded a 0.5-per-cent fall in exports month on month in August and a 2.5-per-cent drop in imports amid concerns that the world economy could slide into recession in the wake of the global credit crunch.

Thursday's data showed imports rising 2.6 per cent on the year. The country's trade surplus came in at 13.1 billion euros (17.85 billion dollars) in August, the data showed. (dpa)