Auto imports via Tianjin Port surge 40.5%

Customs statistics show that Tianjin ranked first among China's auto import ports with imports of 81,000 automobiles in 2006, accounting for 35.4 percent of the national total. The port's auto imports rose 40.5 percent from 2005.

Tianjin Port's auto imports last year were valued at US$2.64 billion, an increase of 55.4 percent over the previous year. Imports in the form of general trade hit 75,000 units, making up 92.6 percent of the port's auto imports in 2006.
      
Large-displacement auto imports grew faster than autos with smaller displacements. Imports of gasoline-powered sedans and off-roaders with displacements higher than 3,000 milliliters grew 72.6 percent to 28,000 units. Gasoline sedans and off-roaders with displacements lower than 3,000 milliliters saw imports grow only 21.6 percent to 42,000 units.