HONG KONG, July 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Taiwan was the world's 15th largest trader in 2004, ahead of Singapore in 16th place but behind Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea in 11th and 12th spots, according to a Taiwan report citing the latest statistics compiled by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    According to the report reaching here from Taipei on Wednesday,¡¡Taiwan's trade totaled 349.3 billion US dollars last year, accounting for 1.9 percent of the global volume and marking an annual increase of 26 percent over the 2003 level.

    Taiwan's exports and imports totaled 181.4 billion US dollars and 167.9 billion US dollars respectively in 2004, both the world's 15th largest. Taiwan was the world's 15th biggest exporter and the 16th largest importer in 2003.

    The United States remained the world's No.1 economic power with¡¡trade worth 2.3 trillion US dollars, followed by Germany and the Chinese mainland. The Chinese mainland replaced Japan as the world's third largest trader. Enditem