ALASHANKOU checkpoint, on Sino-Kazakhstani border, handled 10.21 million tonnes of cargo from January to May, represednting a 3.2 per cent decline year on year, Xinhua reports.

Imports dropped 5.8 per cent to 7.82 million tonnes. Exports grew 6.2 per cent to 23.95 million tonnes.

The checkpoint recorded a trade value of US$6.36 billion from January to May, down 2.1 per cent. Import value fell 15 per cent to $4.79 billion. Export value soared 81.4 per cent to $1.57 billion.

Customs collected a total of CNY5.93 billion's (US$932.96 million) tariff and tax during this period. Some CNY153 million was raised in tariff revenue, down 32.6 per cent while import linkage taxes totalled CNY5.78 billion, down 2.2 per cent.