By Zhao Jinping and Zhao Fujun, Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations, the DRC

Research report No 157, 2013

Abstract

The foreign trade trends research group conducted a survey among 225 foreign trade enterprises in more than 20 cities nationwide between June 1 and 10, 2013, to investigate the problems and difficulties that those enterprises faced and to provide objective evidence for policy adjustment. The results suggest that current foreign trade exports are slowly declining, with SMEs'exports tailing off significantly more than with the larger enterprises. Half of those companies' export costs are continuously increasing lead to a rise in the export price. The profit rate for most of these companies is also low. However, as most orders are finally picking up, compared to last year, irrespective of quality or quantity, the overall export situation this year is flat compared with last year. Most companies hope the government to take actions, including suppressing costs and the RMB exchange rate.

Key words

Foreign trade situation, questionnaire research, analysis