Foreign trade in northeast China's Liaoning Province amounted to US$6.32 billion in the first quarter of this year, a growth of 17.8 percent year-on-year.

However, the growth rate was 22 percentage points lower than the year-earlier level, according to local customs house.

The total trade volume included US$3.06 billion in import value, up 20.1 percent year-on-year; and US$3.26 billion in export value, up 15.7 percent. The trade surplus was US$200 million.

The export volume included US$190 million worth of oil products, down 37.9 percent from the year-earlier level, 1.43 billion dollars worth of machines and electronics, up 22.3 percent, and 590 million dollars worth of new and high tech products, up 30.3 percent.
 
(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2004)