Shenzhen, a boomtown in south China's Guangdong Province neighboring Hong Kong, has lead large and medium-sized Chinese cities in terms of foreign trade for 12 straight years.

Local customs statistics show that the city had US$147.31 billion worth of foreign trade in 2004, up 25.5 percent on a year-on-year basis.

In breakdown, exports made up US$77.86 billion, up 23.7 percent, and contributed one eighth of the national total. Imports totaled US$69.46 billion, up 27.6 percent.

According to the customs sources, exports to Hong Kong, the United States and the European Union, three of the city's 10 major export markets, all showed double-digit increases in the past year.

And the city's main export items are stationery, telecom equipment and home appliances. 

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2005)