(Yicai Global) Nov. 6 -- Chinese imports from countries participating in this year's China International Import Expo increased over the first three quarters, despite the nation importing less overall.

China imported nearly CNY3.1 trillion (USD442 billion) in goods and services from CIIE participants during the period, up 8.8 percent on the year, Economic Daily reported, citing data from Shanghai Customs. The figure from all countries slid 0.1 percent to CNY10.4 trillion.

There are 64 nations taking part in the second ever CIIE, with over 15 special guest countries and 94,000 Chinese companies importing from them, 6.3 percent more than last year.

Some 31 of China's provincial-level administrative regions imported from participating countries in the first three quarters. Beijing led the way importing CNY603 billion, up 12.8 percent annually and making up 19.5 percent of the total, while Guangdong and Shanghai imported CNY398 billion and CNY373 billion, up 3 percent and 1.2 percent and contributing 12.9 percent and 12.1 percent to the overall figure.

The most imported commodity was oil, making up 19.3 percent of the total after China imported CNY596 billion worth, up 13.8 percent annually.

Another popular category was consumer goods, rising 25.5 percent to CNY321 billion and making up 10.4 percent of the overall figure, up 1.4 percentage points. Some CNY42.4 billion of this went on meat and CNY41.3 billion on aquatic products and seafood, rising 58.9 percent and 66 percent, while cosmetics spending rose 47.1 percent to CNY21 billion and clothing imports climbed 10.8 percent to the same amount.

Editor: James Boynton