Shenzhen maintains lead in Chinese export rankings

Exports from Shenzhen, a city in South China's Guangdong province, reached $179.72 billion last year, up 6.6 percent from 2007 and leading the list of major Chinese cities for the 16th straight year, Shenzhen Customs said Tuesday.

Shenzhen, which led China's reform and opening up 30 years ago as the first special economic region, accounts for one seventh of the country's total exports.

Exports of machinery and electronic products, which accounted for 77 percent of the city's total, rose 11.5 percent to $138.37 billion last year. New and hi-tech product exports increased by 13.5 percent to $90 billion.

The total volume of imports and exports reached $299.96 billion, up 4.3 percent year on year.