TIANJIN, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Tianjin, a traditional manufacturing base and a major port in northern China, realized 46.37 billion U.S. dollars in foreign trade in the first half of this year, representing a year-on-year growth of 21.5 percent.

According to the local customs, the total included 25.6 billion U.S. dollars in export volume and 20.77 billion U.S. dollars in import volume, up 19 percent and 24.7 percent, respectively.

Foreign-invested companies made up 48.9 percent of the port's total foreign sales and purchases with a trade volume of 22.69 billion U.S. dollars, up 27.1 percent; while the state-owned businesses claimed a share of 33.8 percent with a trade volume of 15.69 billion U.S. dollars, up 10.1 percent.

Between January and June, machines and electronics continued to hold the sway in Tianjin Port's export, with a proportion of 44.7 percent of the total, local customs sources said.

The port sold abroad 11.44 billion U.S. dollars worth of machines and electronics in the six-month period, up 33.4 percent. The volume included 3.02 billion U.S. dollars for sales of machines and equipment and 4.22 billion U.S. dollars for electronics and electric appliances, up 44.5 percent and 21.9 percent respectively, the customs sources added. Enditem