BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua)-- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Monday the country's foreign trade in the first ten months rose 24.1 percent year-on-year to hit 1.425 trillion U.S. dollars, surpassing the volume for the whole of 2005.

    MOC figures show the value of export and import increase 26.8 percent and 20.9 percent to 779.29 and 645.66 billion U.S. dollars respectively, leaving a trade surplus of 133.63 billion U.S. dollars.

    Previous MOC reports forecast a 2006 trade surplus of more than150 billion U.S. dollars, a record.

    The report noted the difference in the growth rate for imports and exports had narrowed this year.

    Customs figures show October's trade volume reached 152.43 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 22.9 percent. The monthly surplus of 23.8 billion U.S. dollars is the fifth new monthly record this year.

    Export of electronic and machinery goods jumped a remarkable 29.7 percent to 439.71 billion U.S. dollars in the ten months ending October, making up 56.4 percent of total exports.

    Shoe exports surged 15.7 percent to 18.11 billion U.S dollars despite the EU's anti-dumping measures.

    Exports of crude and refined oil declined sharply as domestic demand rose, sliding 12.5 and 17.6 percent to 5.09 and 9.99 million tons respectively.

    Among imports, automobiles burned up the tarmac with a 40.2 percent expansion, the fastest for any category.

    Manufactured goods account for 76 percent of total imports, surging 18.6 percent to 490.45 billion U.S dollars.

    MOC said total trade volume is expected to jump 20 percent to hit 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars by the end of the year, with exports reaching 960 billion U.S. dollars and imports hitting 810 billion U.S. dollars.