Foreign trade in north China maintained its rapid growth in the first five months, despite the area being seriously hit by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), according to Customs statistics.

Imports and exports via Tianjin port, which handles most of north China's foreign trade, totaled US$17.64 billion during the first five months, a year-on-year increase of 30.8 percent.

Imports via Tianjin hit US$7.84 billion while exports were US$9.8 billion, up 28.1 percent and 33.1 percent respectively year on year.

Most northern provinces, like Tianjin, Hebei and Shanxi, reported more than 30 percent year-on-year growth in imports and exports during the first five months. Beijing saw an 11.6 percent increase.

North China's imports and exports via Tianjin mainly went to major trade partners like Japan, the United States, the Republic of Korea and Germany.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2003)