China’s imports rose by 36 percent in 2004, totaling US$561.4 billion.
Of these imports, the major components were machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, plastics, and iron and steel.
The major trading partners were Japan (16.8 percent), Taiwan (11.4 percent), South Korea (11.1 percent), and the United States (8 percent).
The 2004 amount reflected the rising trend in imports during the pervious seven years.
In 1996 China’s imports totaled US$138.8 billion and reached US$225 billion by 2000.
