Figures about Chinese foreign trade

Here are figures about Chinas foreign trade in the first half of 2008.

Total volume of foreign trade hit $1.23 trillion, up 25.7 percent year on year. Exports were $666.6 billion, up 21.9 percent; imports were $567.6 billion, up 30.6 percent.

Foreign trade surplus was $99.03 billion, down 11.8 percent year on year.

The European Union was the biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade volume reaching $202.1 billion, up 27.7 percent year on year. The United States and Japan came second and third respectively.

Four provinces and municipalities saw foreign trade exceed $100 billion. These included the southern Guangdong province, the eastern Jiangsu province, the eastern business hub Shanghai and Beijing.

Agricultural products: Imports were $28.8 billion, up 59.9 percent year on year; exports were $19.3 billion, up 12.2 percent.

Textile: Imports were $9.21 billion, up 0.98 percent compared with last year; exports were $83.9 billion, up 11.11 percent.

Steel: Imports were 8.26 million tons, down 5.02 percent over last year, or 436,100 tons; exports were 26.91 million tons, down 20.35 percent, or 6.88 million tons.

Automobile: Imports were $7.81 billion, up 71 percent year on year; exports were $5 billion, up 85 percent.

Coal: Imports were 21.6 million tons, down 20.4 percent year on year; exports were 25.5 million tons, up 10.2 percent.

Crude oil: Imports were 90.5 million tons, up 11 percent year on year; exports were 2.37 million tons, up 30.6 percent.