HONG KONG, May 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Online sourcing portal Global Sources posted its first quarter results Wednesday, showing that revenues from China now represent 40 percent of the company's total and SARS poses no threat to sourcing from China.

　　Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company Merle Hinrichs told a news conference Wednesday that the 40 percent, up from 34 percent of the same period last year, represents a growth rate of 16 percent of revenues from China, and that despite severeacute respiratory syndrome (SARS) attacking many places in the world, the 40 percent-level revenues from China should be able to be maintained for the second quarter results.

　　Hinrichs said, "This quarter, we achieved double-digit sales growth in China and a sharp increase in profitability.

　　"We are the dominant leader in two high-growth markets: consumer product exports from China and high-tech imports by the Asia-Pacific region. And now for eight successive quarters, we have increased cash and shareholders' equity," he said.

　　Although SARS has attacked many different countries and regionsin the world, sourcing via the internet continues unaffected, including sourcing from China, Hinrichs said. He said it is exactly due to SARS that businessmen conduct their sourcing via the internet without having to travel abroad.

　　Income from operations increased to 1.5 million US dollars, up from 1.3 million US dollars in the first quarter of 2002. Revenueswere 21.6 million US dollars compared with 21.8 million US dollarsfor the first quarter of last year.

　　According to a press release issued by the company, the companycurrently enjoys a clientele of 385,000 active buyers in over 230 countries and regions. Such buyers generate more than 3.4 million inquiries annually for 140,000 suppliers through Global Sources Online alone. It offers supplier enablement capabilities in the Chinese mainland and other leading supply markets through 63 content management offices and 700 sales representatives.