(Yicai Global) March 25 -- China’s exports of stay-at-home economy devices, such as handsets and household appliances, fell in January and February from a year earlier.

China exported 129 million mobile phones worth USD23.2 billion in the two months ended Feb. 28, down 20.6 percent by volume but up 1.2 percent by value from a year earlier, according to figures from the General Administration of Customs.

Home appliance exports dropped 7.9 percent to 549 million, with their value slipping 3.6 percent to USD14.1 billion. Those of refrigerators and washing machines also fell, while those of air conditioners and televisions rose.

The fall-off was mainly due to global supply chain shortages, the easing of Covid-19 measures abroad, and geopolitical risks, Shu Jueting, a commerce ministry spokesperson, said yesterday.

As the pandemic is still ongoing, the global supply chain has not overcome bottlenecks, so raw materials including chips are in short supply, he added, noting that China’s recent Covid-19 outbreak has impacted foreign trade companies and industrial chains.

Other countries have gradually eased pandemic counter measures, so consumers are spending less time at home, damping demand for stay-at-home economy devices, Shu said.

Commodity prices have soared and there is much uncertainty surrounding geopolitics, which has undermined the confidence of overseas consumers, he noted.

China’s imports and exports totaled USD973.5 billion in the first two months of 2022, up 15.9 percent from a year ago, with exports soaring 16.3 percent to USD544.7 billion. The country’s foreign trade was basically stable at the beginning of the year and there is confidence that it will stay in a reasonable range through the year, Shu said.

Editor: Futura Costaglione