Higher demand lifts Pearl Delta exports

Business continued to improve for small and medium-sized exporters in the Pearl River Delta in August, lifted by increased overseas demand and government policies to support foreign trade, a report said on Tuesday.

Shenzhen Onetouch Business Service Co, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, found that exporters' confidence was positive in August.

The trade climate index stood at 102.65, with many Delta exporters reporting increased orders.

"The situation will continue to improve in the months ahead because overseas demand for Chinese goods increases at the end of each year," said Xiao Feng, deputy general manager of Shenzhen Onetouch.

Rising orders in the past two months and stable production, labor and exchange-rate conditions helped exporters make more profits, according to Xiao.

Xiao said that government trade-boosting incentives had proven effective.

"In particular, new business models such as cross-border e-commerce and comprehensive foreign trade services have helped exporters gain more orders," Xiao said.

The nation's total trade increased 4 percent year-on-year to $367.09 billion in August, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Exports to major markets including the United States, European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations increased by 11.3 percent, 12.8 percent and 12.7 percent, respectively.

"The increased value of foreign trade in the past two months was mainly due to implementation of a series of government policies to support the stable growth of foreign trade," said Shen Danyang, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce.

The trade increase in August followed a surge of 14.5 percent in July.

According to Shen, export procedures have been streamlined and export rebates have been improved.

"We have also introduced measures to help companies tackle financing difficulties, with credit and insurance institutes providing financial services for about 25,000 small and medium-sized enterprises," Shen said at a press conference on Tuesday.

He said that cross-border e-commerce and comprehensive trade service business have had strong government support.

"But we are not sure that China's foreign trade can maintain this momentum ... as many uncertainties remain in the global and domestic markets and some companies face difficulties in exporting," Shen said.