Shoppers try out a pair of foreign brand sunglasses for sale at the busy Nanjing road shopping area of Shanghai.
© AFP/File Mark Ralston

Beijing, Jan 11: Chinese exports grew by over 27 percent and imports recorded a jump of 20 percent during 2006, giving the country’s economy a trade surplus of 177.47 billion US dollars in 2006.

The data released by the General Administration of Customs, said that Chinese aggregate exports increased to 969.08 billion dollars, while imports were up to reach 791.61 billion dollars.

Surplus during December alone stood at 21 billion US dollars, a slight decline from November's 22.9 billion dollars, reported the China Daily.

The trade figures for 2006 were said to be higher than the Ministry of Commerce projection, which forecast the aggregate trade surplus would be 168 billion US dollars.

Electronic and machinery products remained the top export items in 2006, rising by 28.8 percent to 549.44 billion US dollars. Exports of clothing during the year reached 95.19 billion US dollars, up 28.9 percent year-on-year. Exports of textile products rose by 18.7 percent to 48.8 billion US dollars.

During the year, the country exported 43.01 million tons of steel in 2006, up 110 percent from the year before. And, its imports of primary products rose 26.7 percent to 187.14 billion US dollars in 2006, including 326 million tons of iron ore, up 18.6 percent from 2005. (ANI)