Improvement in Q1 trade balance

1 May 2002

China's exports in the first quarter of 2002 were worth US$64.66bn, 9.9 per cent more than in the same period of 2001, according to General Administration of Customs figures. Imports rose by 5.2 per cent year-on-year to US$57.4bn, giving a surplus of US$7.26bn. Machinery and electronic goods accounted for 47.7 per cent of total exports. Exports by the processing trade and exports of joint venture enterprises have been rising, while imports of crude oil, timber and paper pulp have increased sharply.