After two years of virtual stagnation, British exports have recovered in 2004. But expectations that the world economy will slow next year and fears about the fragility of the dollar have renewed concerns about the outlook for sales abroad.

The British Chambers of Commerce yesterday called on Gordon Brown for measures in this week's pre-Budget report to help exporters. "We are concerned that this increased focus on imports will not do enough to promote international trade development and UK exporters," it said.