Figures show that in 2002, the province exported US$29.42 billion worth of goods, scoring the second highest export growth rate in China's coastal areas after Jiangsu Province.

Exports of some traditional products such as textiles, shoes, household furnishings and plastics increased by 35 percent or higher.

The electromechanical and high-tech industries also saw exports increase by 33.4 percent and 28.2 percent respectively.

The most marked exports increase was seen in the private sector, which was reported to be 1.4 times more than that of 2001.

More than a quarter of the provincial export market was shared by Asia, the European Union and the United States, with increases of 28.7 percent, 28.5 percent and 29.3 percent respectively.

According to the latest figures from the General Administration of Customs of China, Zhejiang was the fourth largest exporter from January to November 2002 among China's top ten trading provinces and municipalities.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2003)