BERLIN, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Germany's export sector will not return to its former strength until 2014, according to an economic report released on Wednesday.

    German exports slumped 18 percent in 2009, while in 2010 it will recover by 4 percent. With this speed, German exports will not return to its pre-crisis level until 2014, said the latest report on foreign trade issued by the BDI Federation of German Industries.

    "Germany's export industries are on the way of improvement, but the recovery process will take longer," BDI President Hans-Peter Keitel said. "The export industries had to battle through a tough setback in 2009."

    The figures were based on a large survey of German businesses across a wide range of sectors.

    One third of German jobs rely on exports, while before the global economic crisis started in 2008, German exports saw an 8-percent increase every year, the report said.