Guangdong sees sharp increase in Christmas products exports to ASEAN

GUANGZHOU, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's Guangdong Province, the country's key manufacturer export base, saw Christmas products exports to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in the first eight months grew more than doubled amid a general decline to other regions.

Figures from Guangzhou Customs released Thursday showed that total volumes of Guangdong's Christmas products export to the ASEAN countries stood at 19,000 tonnes in Jan-Aug period, soaring 250 percent from a year earlier.

It made sharp comparison with export slump to the United States and the European Union countries, of which total volumes for this period dropped 25.3 percent and 14.9 percent, respectively, dragged down by a weak demand in the global sluggish market.

Total volumes of Christmas products exports in the first eight months in Guangdong slid 16.3 percent year on year to 197,000 tonnes.

The country's overall export condition remains weak despite the government has raised export tax rebates seven times since last August to shore up exports. Export tax rebates on the Christmas-related products were lifted from 11 percent to 13 percent in last December.

Analysts said Chinese enterprises should continue to explore the emerging market while raising added value of the export products.