China's trade deficit in farm produce reached US$100 million in the first four months of 2007, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said Thursday.

 

The country's exports of farm produce hit US$11.48 billion, up 23.9 percent year-on-year, while imports were US$11.58 billion, up 10.4 percent year-on-year.

 

China's farm produce exports to the European Union hit US$1.64 billion, South Korea US$1.37 billion, the United States US$1.39 billion and ASEAN US$1.17 billion, according to MOFCOM figures.

 

Of the total, private enterprises exported US$3.67 billion, foreign-funded companies US$4.68 billion and state-owned firms US$2.67 billion.

 

China's trade deficit in farm produce in 2006 stood at US$670 million, a decrease of 41.3 percent from the 2005 level of US$1.14 billion, according to official figures.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2007)