Special supplement: Powerhouse prepares to meet crisis

GUANGZHOU: Negative export growth may be inevitable in southern Guangdong province in the coming year as global financial turmoil continues, an expert said.

"The global financial crisis will make consumers more reluctant to spend money and the overseas market demand will dwindle accordingly," said Ding Li, a researcher with Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences.

"The unfavorable impact on Guangdong's export business cannot be neglected as the province makes up about one third of the nation's exports."