The rapid development of the information industry in China will necessitate more integrated circuit (IC) and micro-electronic products from the international market, according to a source with Beijing customs.

Last year the customs recorded imports of 270 million IC products, up 86 percent from 1998. The rise can be attributed to the boom in sales of computers and other digital products, said customs officials.

China needs about 100 billion IC products this year, most of which will have to be imported, the source predicted.

The two main providers of IC products are Finland and Japan, which sold 310 million and 62 million US dollars of products to China respectively. The IC digital chip products accounted for about 66 percent of the imports, said the customs.