Sales of franchised commodities for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo totaled 23.58 billion yuan ($3.54 billion) by the end of August, according to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.

The number exceeded the overall sale target of 20 billion yuan and set a new record for international event franchised commodity sales in China.

The host city Shanghai recorded retail sales of 51.25 billion yuan in August, rising 17.1 percent year-on-year, boosted by large crowds pouring in to visit the Expo Park.

In August, the World Expo Shanghai 2010 received 12.46 million visitors, bringing the total number of visitors to 47.37 million by the end of August. The park realized 500 million yuan in retail sales in August.