Minister sees steady export growth

China is expected to maintain steady growth in exports this year despite a slowdown in the United States, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said yesterday.

His remarks came after the General Administration of Customs said China's monthly trade surplus shrank to $8.56 billion in February, roughly a third of the level in the same month last year.

Chen attributed the decline in exports in the last two months to the lunar new year holiday, during which Chinese factories halt work.