Commercial vehicle exports through changes

The country posted a trade surplus of $41.42 billion in the first quarter this year, down 10.8 percent from the same period of last year, dragged down by restless yuan appreciation and a likely economic recession around the world. However, Chinese commercial vehicle makers seemed unaffected.

"Although our specific figures for the first quarter haven't been released, our exports will definitely grow from last year," claimed Zhao Mei from Shaanxi Automobile Group's marketing department. SAIC-Iveco Hongyan Motor Co Ltd came with similar words.

Zhang Yikui, overseas marketing director of Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co Ltd, disclosed that Jianghuai Auto exported more than 6,000 trucks between January and March this year, up 40 percent year on year. "Jianghuai Auto's export destinations are mostly in the Mid-east, north Africa, and the Persian Gulf areas, and little to Europe and North America. Orders from our clients are mostly stimulated by their own currencies' appreciation against a comparatively weak dollar," said Zhang.