Shanghai Customs Reports Foreign Trade Growth

The Shanghai Customs Bureau handled 32.9 billion US dollars-worth of imports and exports in the first half of this year, accounting for one fifth of China's total.

The amount was 21 percent more than that of the same period last year.

Local analysts attributed the growth mainly to the improvement of the internal management of the customs operations and a successful crackdown on smuggling.

This year, the bureau has taken a series of measures, including simplifying formalities and introducing advanced inspection equipment and technology, to increase efficiency.

Meanwhile, an electronic information center linked to concerned departments, such as commodity inspection, foreign exchange administration and taxation, has been established.

The bureau has also stepped up its efforts to crack down on smuggling, and confiscated large amounts of smuggled goods, such as oil and cigarettes, thus creating a better business environment for foreign traders.