China exported US$62.06 million worth of flowers in the first eight months of this year, representing a growth of 34.5 percent on the same period of last year, sources with the General Administration of Customs said on Saturday.

The sources said sales to Japan, the European Union, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN members grew rapidly while those to the United States and Hong Kong declines. The six regions accounted for 93.4 percent of China's total flower exports.

Between January and August, China sold 19.26 million U.S. dollars worth of flowers to Japan, up 45 percent year-on-year, and 16.98 million dollars worth to the EU, up 47.6 percent.

Exports to the ROK stood at 9.03 million U.S. dollars worth in the eight-month period, up 79.8 percent, and those to ASEAN members at 5.74 million dollars worth, up 71.4 percent.

Meanwhile, the Chinese mainland exported 3.61 million U.S. dollars worth of flowers to Hong Kong, down 29.7 percent, and 3.33 million U.S. dollars worth to the United States, down 22.5 percent.

The sources said China ranked first in the world in terms of flower production, but its exports accounted for only two percent of the world's total.

The low exports are attributable to unstable quality, low growing technology, high transport cost and lack of professionals and technicians, according to the sources.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2007)