China imports from ASEAN surge in H1

However, BOFT said that Taiwan's trade surplus with China reached US$21.4 billion in the first five months of the year, a new high.

The ASEAN Plus One framework officially began on Jan. 1, and the competitiveness of Southeast Asian products traded in China has become increasingly noticeable, BOFT said.

Citing Chinese customs data, BOFT said in the first half China imported a total of US$649.41 billion, a rise of 53 percent from the same period in 2009. Japan was still China's biggest importer, followed by the European Union and ASEAN countries.

However, in terms of import growth, in the first half imports from ASEAN countries grew 65.1 percent, more than the 60.1 percent for Taiwan, 49.5 percent for Korea, and 45.9 percent for Japan.

According to BOFT, imports of machines and their parts and components from ASEAN to China grew 61 percent during the first half. Optoelectronics and camera imports grew 66.3 percent, while imports of plastics grew 45.5 percent.

However, BOFT urged Taiwan not to worry too much, as Taiwan's trade surplus with China enjoyed a record high of US$21.4 billion for the first five months, due to warmer cross-strait trade relations and increased procurements from Chinese companies.

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