A majority of Chinese exporters said that their exports to Europe have declined in the past few months as the E.U.'s debt crisis weighed on external demand, according to a survey conducted by Global Sources, a trade information provider, Xinhua reported Wednesday.

About two thirds of nearly 600 companies surveyed said shipments to Europe had dropped, with 35 percent reporting significant falls, Global Sources said.

Nearly 40 percent of the surveyed expected further decline in exports to the European market in 2012; 29 percent anticipated more orders.

Meanwhile, 42 percent of these companies planned to strengthen their presence in emerging markets including Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, East Europe and the Asia Pacific.

Europe is China's biggest export market. But growth in exports to European market slid to 9.8 percent from 22 percent in last September, according to data released by China's General Administration of Customs.

China's business press carried the story above on Wednesday.