The ports of south China's Guangdong Province exported 144,000 tons of fireworks in the first 10 months of this year, up 51 percent over last year's same period.

According to the local customs house, the export value of the fireworks this year rose 37 percent to 200 million U.S. dollars.

The number of major importers has increased to 66 countries, and exports to Europe registered a 64 percent rise to reach 130 million U.S. dollars. Imports to Germany, the United States, Holland, and Britain surpassed US$10 million each.

At the same time, the value of fireworks exports to Asian countries dropped by 25 percent to 19.36 million U.S. dollars.

A customs official attributed the higher export of fireworks to growing demand from overseas as a new century approaches.