Traders report grim outlook

The outlook for small and medium-sized companies in the Pearl River Delta, a major manufacturing and trade hub in South China, remains grim after they witnessed a slower increase in exports in the first quarter of this year, according to an industrial report.

A total of 2,000 exporters surveyed in the report, which was released by the Shenzhen Onetouch Business Service Co on Tuesday, reported an export increase of only 1.44 percent year-on-year in the first three months of 2014.

The foreign trade climax index, which reflects exporters' confidence in trade, was below the satisfaction threshold at 96.93 in the first quarter, according to the report.