Guangdong's export volume from its private-run companies, overseas-funded firms and joint ventures witnessed strong growth in the first 10 months this year.

According to statistics released by Guangdong Customs yesterday, the export volume of the province's private-run companies reached US$8.68 billion for the period from January to October, up 1.7 times from figures for the same period of last year, while exports from overseas-funded firms and joint ventures for the period totaled US$75.2 billion, an increase of 33.9 percent year-on-year, making up 61.8 percent of the province's total exports for the period.

But the exports of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) experienced a slight decline of 0.1 percent for the period, coming in at US$33.32 billion, or 27.4 percent of the province's total exports for the period.

The sustained growth in non-SOE exports has helped Guangdong, China's biggest foreign trade region, reach a total import and export volume of US$227.61 billion for the first 10 months this year, up 26.3 percent from figures for the same period a year ago.

Guangdong's foreign trade volume for the 10-month period amounted to 33.4 percent of China's total trade volume for the period.

The province's export volume stood at US$121.73 billion for the first 10 months, up 26.1 percent year-on-year, while imports grew 26.6 percent to hit US$105.88 billion.

And in October, Guangdong's exports reached a record of US$15.03 billion for the month, up 33.1 percent over figures for the corresponding month of 2002.

Guangdong had a foreign trade surplus of US$15.85 billion for the January-October period.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the United States and the European Union (EU) continued to be the biggest trading partners for Guangdong Province this year.

And Guangdong mainly imported machinery and electronic products, high-tech products, automobiles and auto parts, agricultural products, steel, chemicals, finished oil products and other raw materials this year.

(China Daily November 14, 2003)