Foreign trade value in the Chinese capital rose 70 percent year on year to 42.2 billion U.S. dollars in January and February, Beijing's customs authorities said Saturday.

Export value in the first two months of 2010 stood at 8.06 billion dollars, up 10.7 percent from the same period last year, while imports rose by 94.7 percent to 34.16 billion dollars, the customs said.

This has resulted in a trade deficit of 26.1 billion dollars, up 150 percent year on year, the customs said.

The customs authorities attributed the surging import value of crude oil, automobiles and iron ore, which climbed by 180 percent, 96 percent and 36 percent respectively, to the growing trade deficit.

The European Union remains as Beijing's largest trade partner, followed by Saudi Arabia, which saw trade value with Beijing up 140 percent in January and February.

In the same period, China's nationwide exports surged 31.4 percent to 204 billion U.S. dollars year on year and imports stood at 182.3 billion dollars, up 63.6 percent, with a trade surplus of 21.76 billion dollars, contracting 50.4 percent, according to the General Administration of Customs Wednesday.