Related readings:  China's aquatic products to hit 60m tons by 2010

In 2006, Hainan sold abroad 73,500 tons of aquatic products, valued at 212 million U.S. dollars, a growth of 78 percent year on year.

Aquatic products accounted for 81 percent of the province's total exports of farm produce, the local customs sources said.

Last year Hainan's foreign trade amounted to 2.85 billion U.S. dollars, up almost 10 percent over the previous year. The total included 1.38 billion U.S. dollars in exports, up 34.5 percent, and 1.47 billion U.S. dollars in imports, down six percent.

Of the total trade volume, farm produce made up 297 million U.S. dollars, or 10 percent, up 65 percent.

Exports of farm produce went up more than 70 percent to 258 million U.S. dollars, or 20 percent of the province's total.

The local customs sources said the European Union, Hong Kong and the United States were the top three trade partners of Hainan.

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