Shanghai, China's leading industrial and commercial center, did US$144.56 billion worth of foreign trade in the first nine months of the year, up 40.9 percent from the same period last year.

Imports accounted for US$63.49 billion, a rise of 45.7 percent, and exports were US$81.07 billion, up 37.3 percent, said sources from Shanghai Customs.

The port city did US$8.49 billion worth of imports and US$10.73 billion worth of exports in September alone, both record highs, up 33.1 percent and 38.4 percent.

The European Union, Japan and the United States remained Shanghai's key foreign trade partners. Overseas backed ventures and state-owned Chinese companies are key foreign trade players at Shanghai Port, said the sources.

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2003)