Shenzhen ports had registered more than 12.93 million exported mobile phones in the first three quarters this year, 3.2 times the same period last year, the customs authorities said.

According to the latest statistics, the total worth of the exported mobile phones hit US$1.29 billion, 5.3 times the year-earlier period.

Most of the exports were foreign brandname products assembled in China, accounting for more than 88 percent of the total volume, the customs authorities said.

Although only accounting for barely 12 percent of the total number, more than 1.03 million units of Chinese brandname products have been exported via Shenzhen ports from January to September, 4.3 times the same period the previous year.

The United States led the export destinations with 7.03 million units worth about US$840 million, followed by Hong Kong with US$220 million and France with US$130 million.

The surge was sparked by foreign telecommunication giants’ expansion in China and the fast growth of homegrown enterprises, analysts said.

(Shenzhen Daily October 20, 2004)