Japan, Germany and the Republic ofKorean (ROK) were the top three car exporters to China in the first half of 2004, accounting for 88 percent of China's car imports, according to statistics from China's Commerce Ministry.

In the first half of 2004, China imported 96,780 autos valued 2.918 billion US dollars, up 6.7 percent and 20.8 percent respectively over the last same period.

Sedans, jeeps and minibuses accounted for 91 percent of China'stotal auto imports in the first half of 2004. This includes 33,404 or 39 percent from Japan, 23,523 or 27 percent from Germany and 19,668 or 22 percent from ROK, according to the sources.

In 2003, the volume of China's auto imports reached 170,000. This is 100,000 more than that of 2001 when China entered the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The volume of China's auto imports this year is expected to exceed that of 2003. Imported cars will not impose a great pressure on domestic producers because of the sharp growth of Chinese auto industry, said an industrial analyst.