China's marine sector realized 1.13 trillion yuan (US$150.6 billion) in gross output in the first half of this year, a growth of 13.5 percent on the same period of last year, sources with the State Oceanic Administration said on Tuesday.

Between January and June, 57.4 billion yuan in value-added output was achieved on offshore oil and gas production, up 33.2 percent.

The six months also saw a fast growth in oceanic energy development, with 973 million yuan in value-added output achieved on marine power production, up 26.8 percent. During the period, construction work began on China's first marine wind power project near Shanghai, which involves a designed installed capacity of 100,000 kw.

According to the administration, ship building enterprises in coastal areas realized 15.1 billion yuan in added value, up 28 percent, marine chemical businesses, 40.5 billion yuan, up 24.2 percent, and marine bio-pharmaceuticals producers, 1.6 billion yuan, up 26.8 percent.

Meanwhile, 316 million yuan in added value was realized on sea water treatment and processing, up 23.3 percent, 131.5 billion yuan on oceanic transport, up 21.5 percent, and 20 billion yuan on marine engineering construction, up 21.2 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2007)