China's edible oil trade hit 8.6 million tons in 2007, up 20.5 percent year on year, according to the latest statistics released by the General Administration of Customs.

The trade was valued at 6.4 billion U.S. dollars, an annual surge of 87.2 percent, said the administration.

China imported 8.4 million tons of edible oil in 2007, up 25.2 percent year on year. It also exported 166,000 tons, down 58.3 percent.

The import surge is chiefly driven by increasing domestic prices, explained the administration.

Malaysia exported 3.6 million tons to China, an annual increase of 7.2 percent while Argentina exported 2.3 million tons, up 79.9 percent year on year.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2008)