The import and export value of the non-State sector in Northwest China's Gansu Province last year exceeded US$100 million for the first time in history, according to customs statistics released in Lanzhou recently.

The figure accounted for 9.2 percent of the total foreign trade value in Gansu. The sector gained an export value of US$92.48 million last year, an all time high.

Of the total foreign trade value, one third, or US$35.44 million was gained by the collectively-owned enterprises, three times more than the previous year. The import and export value secured by privately-owned enterprises came to US$68.35 million, a rise of 13 times.

Outlining the characteristics of foreign trade by the non-State sector, a customs official said general trade was dominant with the total value reaching US$92.99 million, or 90 percent of the total.

The number of enterprises each having an import and export value of more than US$1 million rose to 18, making up 32 percent of the registered enterprises.

The variety of commodities for import and export has increased with minerals, base metal, textiles and farm produce adding to both import and export lists.