GUANGDONG customs latest statistical figures show that the province's trade value dropped 10.8 per cent year on year in 2009 to US$611.1 billion, but narrower than the national average of 13.9 per cent, taking up 27.7 per cent of China's total, Logistics Week reported.

Export value fell 11.5 per cent to $359 billion. Import value went 9.7 per cent down to $252.2 billion. Trade surplus was $106.8 billion.

Customs' analysis said that the province's trade is in a slow and gradual process of recovery but is doing better than other trade-oriented cities and provinces such as Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

In December, Guangdong achieved historical high in its trade value, export value and import value. Trade value surged 32.3 per cent year on year to $68.8 billion, slightly slower than the national average growth of 32.7 per cent, taking up 28.3 per cent of the country's total. Export value increased by 23.5 per cent to $39.97 billion. Import value soared 46.7 per cent to $28.9 billion.

Value of exports to Hong Kong, US and European Union respectively fell 13.4 per cent, 10.9 per cent and 16.4 per cent. Exports to these three markets accounted for 66.5 per cent of the province's export value total.