Foreign trade via Tianjin, the leading port city in north China, surged 26 percent to US$30.81 billion in the first five months of this year compared with the same period of 2004, statistics of local customs showed.

The port's export in the first five months came to 17.22 billion US dollars and its import soared to 13.59 billion US dollars, up 28 percent and 23 percent respectively year on year.

Overseas-funded enterprises contributed 14.35 billion US dollars, or 46.6 percent, to the port's foreign trade volume, representing an increase of 26 percent from last year's same period.

State-owned enterprises saw a 17.5-percent rise in their exports and imports to 11.64 billion US dollars, accounting for 38 percent of the foreign trade via the port.

Its import of iron ore and concentrate rose 41.8 percent to 890 million US dollars.

The import of crude oil and oil products via Tianjin went up by15.5 percent to 410 million US dollars.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2005)