EXPORTS have slumped in York and North Yorkshire.

The latest quarterly survey by the region's 600-member Chamber of Commerce shows a significant decline in export sales and orders.

John Yeomans, president of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce described the figures for three months to last December as "very disconcerting, especially after a promising previous quarter."

He said: "The stability and success in the domestic markets in the region is pleasing, but it is disappointing that it has not been matched by sales in the global market place."

The assessments are calculated on the basis of the difference in numbers between those who reported better export returns over the previous quarter and those who reported worse.

Figures show that while manufacturing exports in particular soared in the third quarter last year from a low of minus five to 43 it had now fallen back to a mere eight points.

Service exports, which had remained relatively steady over those two quarters at 19 and 20 respectively, now plummeted to seven.

Mike Cartwright, policy executive for Chamber Management Services which compiles the statistics, said: "One complicating factor could be that if the number of returns in any given quarter falls then statistically the fluctuations are wilder and returns for this quarter were slightly lower than last.

"If we could get even more businesses to respond regularly to our survey it would give us a firmer and more defining estimate of what is going. Meanwhile this result remains a valid indication of trend."

The slump "trend" occurred in spite of huge efforts to inspire new exporters in the region through the York and North Yorkshire Export Forum.

The Forum's campaign, titled Achieving Export Excellence is funded by almost £600,000 from the European Community's regional development fund, involving exporting workshops, seminars and publicity for beginners throughout North Yorkshire.

It also helps owners and managers to develop export strategies, prepare bids and contracts, liaise with overseas customers and deal with financial aspects of overseas trade.

Forum chairman, John Guy, said the figures highlighted the need for the campaign, but urged small businesses with good products not to be put off.

He said: "When you start exporting you build exchange rate differences into your costs, but those who have been exporting for some time get into price structures where changing exchange rates hurt them.

"It's worth noting that the exporting climate has improved for those selling their goods to America where just lately we've been getting more pounds sterling for the dollar.

"It's also worth noting that anyone serious about exporting has to think long term and not be discouraged by short-term problems."

Latest Export Forum half-day workshop, titled Guaranteeing Payment, will be held at the Hanover International Hotel on Wednesday February 7, starting at 8 am.