Export.

INTERNATIONAL trade; EXPORTERS; ECONOMIC competition; BUSINESS; MANUFACTURING industries

UNITED Kingdom; JAPAN

This article focuses on several news briefs on exports from various parts of the world. The exporters of Great Britain have significantly improved their performance in Europe over the last six months but the frequency of firms trading in the single currency has declined, according to the Business in Britain survey from Lloyds TSB Corp. This performance is also instilling confidence for the future, as 38 per cent of companies believe that European export sales will continue to grow throughout the remainder of 2004, with just 10 per cent forecasting a fall. Peter Sargent, director of International Trade Finance, Lloyds TSB Corp., said that the strength of sterling clearly isn't handicapping exporters of Great Britain who are benefiting from stronger global economic growth. British businesses still have plenty of muscle when it comes to competing in continental markets. Japan's manufacturing industry suffered from a lack of domestic and world demand, rising internal costs and competition from low cost countries keen to develop their own production. The Japanese responded strongly, and their investment in heavy industry is bouncing back.