In addition, a key export market for the United States -- Southeast Asia -- wilted after the economic crisis there.
The US, for instance, remains one of Cambodia's main trading partners and a key export market for its growing garment sector.
That has prompted some critics to question whether the short-term gains of the trend of exporting breeding stock will result in the long-term loss of a key export market for American meat producers.
Two of these ports are among those designated as "open" cities and encouraged to foster foreign trade and investment: Nantong, with its extensive deepwater frontage on the Yangtze, has developed its own economic and technical investment zone; and Lianyungang, as the eastern terminus of the Longhai Railway, is a key export outlet for the central and northwestern provinces along the rail line.
Meanwhile, Brazil has also become a key export market for goods manufactured in China.
Figures released last month showed that the eurozone - a key export market for Switzerland - recorded zero growth in the second quarter of the year.
In the last week, Huawei has been on the back foot in the U.K., a key export market for the company, following a scathing report on the security of its technology and the risk that might pose to the country's communications networks.
Eventually, Islay's distillers were forced to pay tax, and whisky became a key export, produced more for mainlanders than for locals.
The sanctions have also hit some UK companies, for whom Russia was a key export market.
Cotton, a key export, suffered from flooding in 2010-11, but high prices supported export earnings.
