BEIJING - China's State Administration of Taxation (SAT) said Monday the actual export tax rebate in the first two months stood at 66.7 billion yuan (US$9.77 billion), up 20.8 percent year-on-year.

"The actual export tax rebate rose despite the fact that export volume declined. It shows the country's tax rebate policy is taking effect," the SAT said in a notice.

China increased the export tax rebate for labor-intensive, mechanical and electrical products in the second half of last year.

"Exports in those industries, therefore, declined slower than others," the notice said. "The increased tax rebate has in a sense eased capital pressure for some businesses."