Export value in 1st phase of 106th Canton Fair up 19.6%

Oct. 21, 2009 (China Knowledge) - The combined value of export contracts signed during the first phase of the 106th China Import and Export Fair, widely known as Canton Fair, have risen 19.6% from the same phase of the 105th session in April to US$15.58 billion, said Chen Chaoren, deputy secretary-general and spokesman of the fair, yesterday.

The number of buyers attending the Canton Fair Phase I, which was held during the period from Oct. 15 to Oct. 19, increased 11.4% from the previous session to 92,000, according to Chen.

Export value of mechanical and electrical products rose 20% from the same phase of the previous session to US$13.45 billion, accounting for 86.4% of the total. Exports of consumer electronics surged 62.9% to US$1.26 billion.

Transactions with China's three major export partners, the E.U., the Middle East and the U.S., were US$3.82 billion, US$2.77 billion and US$1.81 billion.

Exports of private firms grew 23.2% to US$10.24 billion, while that of state-owned enterprises climbed 9.2% to US$2.79 billion. The exports of foreign-funded companies were US$2.55 billion, up 18.2% from the previous session.

The second phase of the 106th session, to be held from Oct. 23 to Oct. 27, will display daily consumer products, gifts, household articles and decorations.