Chile's foreign trade reached $99.88 billion from January to September 2008, an increase of 23 percent compared with the same period of 2007, authorities said Monday.

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Imports, totaling some $44.14 billion, grew by 45 percent, while exports reached $55.74 billion, a rise of 10 percent.

The United States, Chile's biggest trading partner, was responsible for 42 percent of Chile's total trade, or nearly $42 billion -- a growth of 32 percent from the same period last year.

Asia comprises 33 percent of Chile's foreign trade with over $1.47 billion, a growth of 16 percent, and Europe 22 percent with some $1.42 billion, which also rose by 15 percent.

China, Japan and South Korea, Chile's major trading partners in Asia, were responsible for 82 percent of the trade between Chile and the region.