A recent survey showed that rises in overseas orders have bolstered Chinese exporters' confidence though obstacles remain for trade to stay on course, the Ministry of Commerce said yesterday.

In the ministry's survey conducted among 1,900 companies last month, 38.7 percent of them said they received more orders from overseas markets from February to March, the first time the ratio stayed above 35 percent since April 2012, spokesman Shen Danyang said.

Propped up by the improvement, the exporter confidence index rose to 108.7, coming in above the boom-or-bust line of 100, Shen said.

"Although exports have shown signs of rebounding, three export-related factors - a lackluster overseas market, surging costs and an unfavorable trade environment - remain unchanged," Shen said.

He said uncertainties in overseas demand and the increase in short-term orders, which are unlikely to cease in the months to come, will increase the chance of large fluctuations in monthly trade data.