Workers move containers at a port in Nansha district in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. CHINA DAILY 

Exporters' confidence rises, even as materials and labor costs increase. The foreign trade climate index of small and medium-sized exporters in the Pearl River Delta surpassed the satisfaction threshold for the first time this year in April, indicating a recovery in trade, an industrial report said.

The index, which reflects exporters' confidence in shipping products overseas, was above the satisfaction threshold at 101.7 in April, according to the report, which was released on Monday by Shenzhen One touch Business Service Co, a subsidiary of Alibaba.com.