Ministry says exporter confidence improves

BEIJING - A recent survey showed that rises in overseas orders have bolstered Chinese exporters' confidence, although obstacles remain for trade to stay on course, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

In an MOC survey conducted among 1,900 companies last month, 38.7 percent of respondents said they received more orders from overseas markets from February to March, the first time for the ratio to stay above 35 percent since April 2012, ministry spokesman Shen Danyang said at a press conference.

Propped up by the improvement, the exporter confidence index rose to 108.7, coming in above the boom-or-bust line of 100, the spokesman said.

"Although exports have shown signs of rebounding, three export-related factors - a lackluster overseas market, surging costs and an unfavorable trade environment - remain unchanged," Shen said.

Shen said 77 percent of respondents cited weak external demand as a cause for flagging exports in March. More than half said rising coasts also played a role.

China was targeted by 22 trade remedy probes in the first quarter of the year. There were 77 such cases last year.

Shen said uncertainties in overseas demand and the increase in short-term orders, which are unlikely to cease in the months to come, will increase the chance of large fluctuations in monthly trade data.

China posted better-than-expected first-quarter trade data, although trade growth in March eased compared to the previous two months.

Combined exports and imports expanded 13.4 percent year-on-year to $974.67 billion in the first three months, customs data showed.