Guangdong's foreign trade volume from the province's foreign-funded companies and joint ventures reached US$41.56 billion in the first two months of this year.

The figure witnessed a 31.7 per cent year-on-year growth and represented more than 60 per cent of the province's total trade volume, according to statistics released by Guangdong Customs yesterday.

Import and export volume from the province's private-run companies and collective firms also came to US$28.87 million, double the figure from the same period last year.

The positive performance from the province's non-governmental industries has helped Guangdong reach a total foreign trade volume of US$63.63 billion in January and February, up year-on-year 28.4 per cent, according to Wu Sihai, an official from Guangdong Customs.

Guangdong's foreign trade volume accounted for 28.1 per cent of the country's total in the first two months, Wu told China Daily yesterday.

"The southern Chinese province that has been the country's biggest foreign trader for more than two decades reached a foreign surplus of US$5.61 billion in the past months," he said.

Guangdong's exports came to US$34.62 billion while imports stood at US$29.01 billion, a year-on-year increase of 29.2 per cent and 27.5 per cent respectively.

The province's foreign trade volume from its general trade industry, which hit US$8.46 billion, enjoyed a quick 33.7 per cent year-on-year growth in the first two months this year, 14.1 percentages higher than the country's average growth rate.

Source: China Daily