Guangdong Province reported a total foreign trade of US$102.2 billion in the first four months of this year, rising by 26.2 percent year-on-year and accounting for 30.4 percent of the national total, the customs said Monday.

The export of Guangdong in the four months grew 23.9 percent to US$52.4 billion, and import increased 28.8 percent to US$49.79 billion, with a surplus of US$2.64 billion, which compared with the national trade deficit of US$10.76 billion in the same period.

Foreign-invested companies played a major role in Guangdong's foreign trade increase, said a customs officer. They contributed 62.8 percent to the province's export with US$32.9 billion of export earnings. Private enterprises reported the highest growth rate of 90.6 percent, with their combined export totaling US$4.75 billion.

Mechanical and electronic products and high-tech products led other export commodities and earned US$35.2 billion and US$17.8 billion respectively.

Other major exports included labor-intensive products such as textiles, clothing, furniture, and light fittings.
 
(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2004)