(Yicai) July 12 -- China's foreign trade value in US dollar terms rose 2.9 percent to USD2.98 trillion in the first half of the year, according to the latest official data.

China's imports and exports jumped 2 percent and 3.6 percent to USD1.27 trillion and USD1.71 trillion, respectively, in the six months ended June 30 from a year earlier, generating a trade surplus of USD435 billion, up 8.6 percent in the period, according to statistics released by the General Administration of Customs today. 

In June alone, China's foreign trade increased 3.3 percent to USD516.7 billion, GAC data also showed.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations remained China's largest trading partner in the first half, as the value of goods traded between the pair soared 7.1 percent to USD472.5 billion, with imports from and exports to the ASEAN up 2 percent to USD187 billion an 10.7 percent to USD285.5 billion, respectively. The trade volume with Vietnam and Malaysia surged 21 percent and 11 percent to USD123.8 billion and USD100.2 billion.

The foreign trade between China and the European Union, the country's second-biggest trading partner, fell 3.7 percent to USD382.4 billion in the period.

China's imports from the United States fell 4.9 percent to USD81.4 billion, while exports rose 1.5 percent to USD241.3 billion, generating a trade surplus of USD159.9 billion in the first half. The foreign trade value to China's third-largest trading partner fell 0.2 percent to USD322.6 billion.

South Korea and Japan ranked fourth and fifth, as their foreign trade value with China up 4.3 percent and down 6.3 percent, respectively.

China's mechanical and electronic products exports jumped 4.9 percent to nearly USD1 trillion in the first half from a year earlier, and exports of integrated circuits soared 22 percent to USD76.4 billion. Exports of labor-intensive products, such as clothes and accessories, remained unchanged, while those of shoes and boots fell 5.4 percent, and those of furniture and parts increased 15 percent.

China's imports of mechanical and electric products, ICs, and high- and new-tech products increased steadily, especially that of automated data processing equipment and parts, up nearly 54 percent to USD32.1 billion. Imports of agricultural products, meat, and grains fell by some degrees.

Editor: Futura Costaglione