China hopefully becomes the third largest export market of the United States at the end of this year, surpassing Japan, said US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Franklin Lavin here Wednesday.

"My prediction is, by the end of this year, China will be the United States' third largest export market, surpassing Japan, if this trend continues," Lavin told reporters during a visit to China's business hub of Shanghai.

US exports to China grew 36.5 percent in the first five months of this year over the same period in 2005, he said.

America's top export market is Canada, followed by Mexico. China is currently at the fourth place.