In the first quarter of 2005, China imported 5.4 million tons of coal and 63.24 tons of iron ore, up 58.8 percent and 24.8 percent respectively, according to statistics released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) in Beijing Monday.

China imported 30.94 billion US dollars of raw materials, accounting for 19.8 percent of the total import volume, up 18.8 percent year-on-year.

Some other raw material that China imported decreased. China imported 29.64 million tons of crude oil, 1.23 million tons of vegetable oil and 5.41 million tons of soybeans, down 1.7 percent, 24.8 percent and 0.1 percent year-on-year.

China imported 108.38 billion dollars worth of industrial products, up 10.4 percent. Imports of electric appliances and products were 35.52 billion dollars, up 18.8 percent and imports of machine appliances were US$21.52 billion, up 4.8 percent.

Automobile and steel imports in the first quarter both dropped greatly. China imported 25,000 automobiles, 51.1 percent less than the same period last year. Steel imports were 5.97 million tons, down 40.8 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2005)