(Yicai Global) July 23 -- China's service outsourcing sector has widened in the first half as exporting services has become more popular despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

The value of Chinese firms' service outsourcing contracts was about CNY679.5 billion (USD9.7 billion) in the first half, rising nearly 6 percent from a year ago, the commerce ministry said on its website today. Meanwhile, the sector generated CNY450.1 billion in executive income, widening 11 percent.

Executive income refers to the revenue generated from the signing and completion of contracts during a certain time period.

Offshore outsourcing contracts tallied CNY403.8 billion, climbing almost 2 percent. The related executive income was CNY267.7 billion, up 10 percent.

In June, the total value of service outsourcing contracts rose 34 percent to CNY212.6 billion from a year earlier. Such executive income was CNY139 billion, up 15 percent.

Editor: Emmi Laine