Statistics from Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) showed that the country's 30 largest chain-store enterprises did 384.56 billion yuan (about 46.56 billion US dollars) in sales in 2004, increasing 32.9 percent from the previous year.

China now has 13,801 chain stores, up 23.8 percent of that of 2003, the MOC statistics added.

Bailian Group, achieving a sales value of 67.63 billion yuan in 2004 by its chain store business departments, tops in the Chinese chain store enterprises.

The MOC statistics also showed that sales value of the 30 largest chain store enterprises accounts for 7.1 percent of the total retail sales. This is 1.2 percent higher than that in 2003, indicating the leading role played by these 30 largest in China's chain store business.