GUANGZHOU: Guangdong's export volume from its private-run companies, overseas-funded firms and joint ventures witnessed strong growth in the first 10 months.

According to statistics released by Guangdong Customs yesterday, the export volume of the province's private-run companies reached US$8.68 billion for the period from January to October, up 1.7 times from figures for the same period of last year, while exports from overseas-funded firms and joint ventures for the period totalled US$75.2 billion, an increase of 33.9 per cent year-on-year, making up 61.8 per cent of the province's total exports.

But the exports of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) experienced a slight decline of 0.1 per cent for the period, coming in at US$33.32 billion, or 27.4 per cent of the province's total exports for the period.

The sustained growth in non-SOE exports has helped Guangdong, China's biggest foreign trade region, reach a total import and export volume of US$227.61 billion for the first 10 months this year, up 26.3 per cent from figures for the same period a year ago.

Guangdong's foreign trade volume for the 10-month period amounted to 33.4 per cent of China's total trade volume for the period.

The province's export volume stood at US$121.73 billion for the first 10 months, up 26.1 per cent year-on-year, while imports grew 26.6 per cent to hit US$105.88 billion.

In October, Guangdong's exports reached a record of US$15.03 billion for the month, up 33.1 per cent over figures for the same period of 2002.

Guangdong had a foreign trade surplus of US$15.85 billion for the January-October period.

(China Daily 11/14/2003 page5)