Poll finds widespread pessimism among Korean exporters

SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- About half of South Korea's small- and mid-sized
manufacturers remain pessimistic about their export growth this year amid a lack
of clear signs pointing to an economic recovery, a poll showed Sunday.
According to the poll of 136 export companies by the Korea Federation of Small
and Medium Business, 45.6 percent expect their export growth rate to fall from
last year. Only 26.5 percent forecast a growth in exports.
By region, more than six out of the 10 exporters polled expect a downturn in
exports to China, Latin America and Russia. In contrast, fewer than four of 10
exporters predicted a slowdown in shipments to the EU and ASEAN markets, while
negative forecasts for the Middle East market came only from 28.6 percent of the
respondents, it said.
Exports, the mainstay of the Korean economy, plunged a record 33.8 percent in
January and 17.1 percent last month.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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