A file photo dated Dec 19, 2011 showing South Korea's Hyundai Motors finished cars waiting for shipment on the Hyundai Motor Ulsan factory in Ulsan. Japan, which lost its lead as Asia's top exporter to the US and Europe a decade ago, now appears to be losing its edge in China to neighbour and rival South Korea - EPA Photo.
HONG KONG: Asia's once-reliable export engine remains stalled two years into a global economic recovery, raising concerns about the region's competitiveness and its ability to motor through the next tough time for emerging markets.
Exports from seven of East Asia's biggest exporters – Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore – grew by just 0.8% in the third quarter, according to a Reuters analysis of national trade data, led by a 3.1% gain in exports to the US from the same three months of 2012.
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