Statistics released by China Customs show the country's export and import in January totaled US$157.36 billion, an increase of 30.5 percent form the same period of last year.

Exports jumped 33 percent to US$86.62 billion and imports rose by 27.5 percent to be valued at US$70.74 billion.

In the first month, exports and imports of general trade increased by 33.2 percent to hit US$71.12 billion and processed trade by 25.7 percent to reach US$ 70.7 billion.

The export of electromechanical products climbed 35.1 percent to US$48.8 billion, accounting for 56.3 percent of the export total. Export of traditional bulk commodity maintained steady growth.

Import of raw products increase by 23.2 percent to be valued at US$17.12 billion, electromechanical products grew by 25.2 percent to hit US$7.12 billion and vehicle import rose by 11.4 percent to 20,000 vehicles.

The EU was China's largest trade partner, with bilateral trade amounting to US$26.46 billion, followed by the US at US$23.43 billion worth of trade and Japan at US$17.51 billion.

Bilateral trade with India ballooned by 63.3 percent to reach US$2.63 billion, overtaking Canada to become China's tenth largest trade partner.

Given that last year Spring Festival occurred in January, the trade increase this January seems particularly rapid.

By People's Daily Online