FOREIGN trade has made a good start in Qingdao this year, according to customs statistics. Total export and import volume was US$6.268 billion in January, up 53.9 percent from a year ago.

    Export volume was US$3.456 billion, up 46.7 percent, while import volume was US$2.812 billion, up 63.7 percent. The figures were the highest so far.

    Private companies exported goods worth US$1.147 billion in January, increasing by 66.5 percent from a year ago, while exports by foreign-funded and State-owned companies totaled US$1.712 billion and US$354 million, increasing by 40.6 percent and 38.2 percent.

    The export volume for general trade was US$1.741 billion and the volume for processing trade was US$1.586 billion, increasing by 57.6 percent and 43 percent. Agricultural product export volume was US$495 million, 66.3 percent more than January last year, while volume for the textile and clothing industries was US$674 million, increasing by 49.9 percent. The export volume of US$2.345 billion was in traditional markets, while about US$737 million was in new markets, increasing by 49 percent and 31.7 percent.

    (Wang Yuanyuan, Zhou Jianliang)