Shandong-ASEAN trade volume up 39.6% in first eleven months in 2011

JINAN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The value of imports and exports from east China's Shandong province to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached 28.65 billion U.S. dollars in the first eleven months of 2011, up 39.6 percent year-on-year, according to Shandong customs authorities.

Statistics showed that the export volume in the first eleven months of 2011 increased 29.1 percent to 9.91 billion U.S. dollars, while imports totaled 18.74 billion U.S. dollars, up 45.9 percent year on year.

Machinery and electronic products, agricultural products and textiles were Shandong's major exports to ASEAN countries this year, according to Shandong customs authorities. Natural rubber and petroleum products were the province's biggest imports, customs authorities said.

ASEAN has surpassed Japan to become China's third-largest trading partner since the establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area in 2010.

ASEAN is made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.