Here is my solution, work well with leading zeros: Code: private void exportToXls(HttpServletResponse response, JasperPrint jasperPrint, ReportRequest reportRequest, ServletOutputStream outputStream) { JExcelApiExporter exporter = new JExcelApiExporter(); response.setContentType("application/xls"«»); exporter.setParameter(JRExporterParameter.JASPER_PRINT, jasperPrint); exporter.setParameter(JRExporterParameter.OUTPUT_STREAM, outputStream); exporter.setParameter(JExcelApiExporterParameter.IS_DETECT_CELL_TYPE, Boolean.TRUE); exporter.setParameter( JExcelApiExporterParameter.IS_WHITE_PAGE_BACKGROUND, Boolean.FALSE); try { exporter.exportReport(); } catch (JRException e) { communicateError(response, XLS, reportRequest, e); } } Regards Edik