Canton Fair Orders Signal Weak Export Outlook

Growth in transactions at the country's largest trade fair has slowed to a crawl, sending gloomy signals for the export outlook.


Transactions totaled some $8.5 billion in the first phase of the fair, up just 1.1 percent over the previous session, said sources with the organizing committee of the ongoing China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair.


The fair's first phase, which ran from April 15 to 19, focused on consumer electronics, home appliances, lighting, motorbikes, autos and auto parts, machinery, hardware, construction materials, sanitary products and chemicals.


"We are facing declining exports due to weak demand from buyers from traditional markets," said Liu Jianjun, spokesman for the Canton Fair.


At the ongoing second phase of the fair, the number of buyers from Europe and the United States has declined a lot, according to Liu.


Though the world economy hasn't yet stabilized, the fair's organizers remain somewhat optimistic about trade cooperation between China and the European Union, Liu said.

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