China's external trade in new- and high-tech products amounted to 754.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, a growth of 8.6 percent on the previous year, the General Administration of Customs said on Saturday.

The growth rate was 12.6 percentage points below the year-earlier level.

The total trade included 339.2 billion U.S. dollars in import value , up 3.5 percent, and 415.6 billion U.S. dollars in export value, up 13.1 percent. The growth rates were 13.9 percentage points and 11.7 percentage points, respectively, lower than the year-ago level.

Major imports were integrated circuit (IC) chips, liquid crystal displays (LCD), aircraft, spare parts of radio telecom equipment and metal processing machines. Main exports were automatic data processing equipment and parts, cordless phones, IC chips, LCDs, TV sets and video recorders.

The customs administration attributed the slowdown in both imports and exports of new- and high-tech products to ebbing demand both at home and abroad, that for consumer electronics in particular, whose markets tended to be saturated.

The ongoing financial crisis and appreciation of Chinese currency also accounted for the slowdown in exports, the administration added.

Foreign-funded companies constituted a major player in foreign trade of new- and high-tech products.

Of the imports, they accounted for 80.3 percent, or 272.5 billion U.S. dollars, up 3.8 percent. Of the exports, they made up 85.2 percent, or 354 billion dollars, up 11.1 percent.

The top supplier of new- and high-tech products for the Chinese mainland were ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members, while the leading three export destinations were the European Union, Hong Kong and the United States.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2009)