CCTV News: On April 14, the State Council Information Office held a regular press conference on economic data in the first quarter.
At the press conference, a reporter asked: Wang Lingjun, deputy director of the General Administration of Customs, described the foreign trade in the first quarter as a rush forward, facing many difficulties and challenges, and exports still achieved a 6.9% increase. I would like to ask what aspects of the growth momentum of exports are? We are currently facing a tariff war, and the challenges and pressure are increasing. What are the expectations for the next stage of exports?
Lu Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs and director of the Statistical Analysis Department, responded that in the first quarter, my country's export scale exceeded 6 trillion yuan, achieving a rapid growth of 6.9%, showing strong resilience under pressure. We believe that we can look at the aspects of demand, innovation and competitiveness:
In terms of international market demand, the average global manufacturing PMI in the first quarter was 49.9%, higher than the fourth quarter of last year and higher than the same period last year. Among them, the manufacturing industry in Asia and Africa was in the expansion period in March. Customs data shows that my country's exports to the above-mentioned regions increased by 7.8% and 12.5% respectively, both higher than the overall growth rate. Consumer spending in the EU and the UK increased month-on-month, and the consumer confidence index was relatively stable, which promoted the demand for my products in the above-mentioned markets. In the first quarter, my country's exports to more than 170 countries and regions achieved growth.
In terms of domestic industrial innovation, China's high-end, intelligent and green transformation momentum is strong. For example, my country's exports of ships and marine engineering equipment have maintained a growth momentum for four consecutive years, with a growth of 10.8% in the first quarter; exports of special equipment have increased for nine consecutive years, with a growth of 16.2% in the first quarter. my country's new energy products continue to play an important role in the global green transformation. In the first quarter, exports of wind turbines, lithium batteries, electric vehicles, etc. increased by 43.2%, 18.8% and 8.2% respectively.
At the same time, the vast majority of foreign trade operators quickly respond to the diversified needs of the global market. With the advantages of complete supporting facilities, fast transformation and upgrading, and flexible operations, some traditional industries have also continuously launched "new products", "trend products" and "explosive products" to promote the "renewal" of competitiveness. In industries such as toys and clothing, through the "small order quick response" model of small orders, multiple batches, and quick response, the delivery cycle has been greatly reduced from the original one month to within one week, significantly enhancing international competitiveness. In the field of consumer goods, domestic trendy products are also emerging, winning wide recognition and praise around the world. In the first quarter, my country's export of sporting goods to the EU and cosmetics to Southeast Asia increased by double-digit growth.
At present, my country's exports are indeed facing a complex and severe external situation, but "the sky cannot fall." In recent years, my country has actively built a diversified market and deepened industrial chain and supply chain cooperation with all parties, which not only empowers each other's development, but also enhances our own resilience. At the same time, China's domestic demand market is vast and it is an important rear. We will unswervingly do our own business well and respond to the uncertainty of the external environment with our own certainty.
