Tianjin, an industrial center for northern China, will likely realize US$33 billion in export volume this year, a growth of 20.4 percent over last year.

 

According to local customs sources, Tianjin chalked up US$58.2 billion in foreign trade over the first 11 months of this year, up 22.1 percent from the year-earlier level.

 

The total included US$30.1 billion in export value, up 23 percent, and US$28 billion in import value, up 21.2 percent.

 

The sources said foreign-funded businesses accounted for 80 percent of the city's total export for the Jan.-Nov. period, 300 percentage points higher than the 2000 level.

 

Machines and electronics made up 68.8 percent of the total foreign sales, up from 48.8 percent in 2000, and the share of new- and high-tech products in the total export increased from 24.7 percent to 45 percent, the sources added.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2006)