Sino-Russian trade through Suifenhe port in the southeastern part of China's northernmost Heilongjiang Province reported growth in the first half of this year despite the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the country.

The port of Suifenhe is the major channel of Sino-Russian trade and China's largest port connecting northeast China region and the Japan Sea.

Statistics show that the volume of foreign trade via the port totaled US$750 million during the first six months of this year, a rise of 18.6 percent on a year-on-year basis.

Imports and exports totaled US$520 million and US$230 million respectively, up 19 and 12.7 percent compared with the same period last year.

Suifenhe port's handling capacity is expected to jump to seven million tons by the end of 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2003)