China exported 215,761 ships valued at 4.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2005, up 49.4 percent over the previous year, according to the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.

Altogether, export volumes of ten kinds of ships exceeded 100 million dollars.

Export volumes of three major ships -- bulk freighter, oil carrier and container -- hit 3.2 billion dollars, accounting for 42 percent, 25 percent and 19 percent of the global market, respectively.

In 2005, China exported eight crude oil ships valued at 295.3 million dollars, up 704 percent over the previous year.

Imported ships totaled 3,818, with a trade volume of 490.8 million dollars, down 52.7 percent.

The Chamber said that as the shipping industry is easily affected by the exchange rate, and most orders will be finished in the coming two or three years, the negative effect of the appreciation of yuan will be shown this year or in 2007.

Source: Xinhua