China's commercial hub Shanghai racked up US$165.6 billion in foreign trade in the January-September period, nearly 70 percent of which was contributed by foreign-invested companies, the municipal statistical bureau announced on Tuesday.

 

Sales were up 21.4 percent from the same period last year, the bureau added.

 

Export turnover from Shanghai's foreign-funded companies reached US$54.8 billion, a year-on-year growth of 22.5 percent.

 

Imports reached US$56 billion, up 21.6 percent.

 

Mechanical and electrical products still dominate the metropolis' foreign trade figures, contributing a massive US$107.5 billion, or about 65 percent of the total.

 

The US is still Shanghai's largest export market with US$20.4 billion. In addition, Shanghai imported US$14.1 billion worth of goods from Japan between January and September.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2006)