According to the 2008 Fukuyama Harbor Survey of Trade (preliminary figures) released by The Fukuyama Branch Customs, the total amount of exports amounted to 563.02 billion yen, a 27.4% increase compared to the previous year, and imports amounted to 530.636 billion yen, a 26.9% increase. Both have increased continually for the past nine years, and this year marks the highest amount on record for both.    Looking at the types of exported goods, iron and steel amounted to 504.186 billion yen (89.6% of the total), scientific and optical instruments to 12.916 billion yen (2.3%), and textile yarn and fiber products to 9.09 billion yen (1.6 %). As for imported goods, coal amounted to 196.565 billion yen (37% of the toal), iron ore to 171.736 billion yen (32.4%), and clothing and related accessories to 57.674 billion yen (10.9%).    Comparing the results by country, the greatest demand for iron and steel was from the Republic of Korea, followed by the People’s Republic of China, Thailand, Taiwan, and the Philippines. As for imports, Australia made up the greatest amount with a large percentage of coal, followed by the People’s Republic of China who imported many articles of clothing, then Brazil, Canada, and Russia.   Total Amount of Exports (1 million yen) Total Amount of Imports (1 million yen) 1996 131,974 110,127 1997 160,617 142,365 1998 172,663 150,596 1999 152,569 136,797 2000 155,591 158,196 2001 177,445 182,733 2002 192,379 185,412 2003 240,658 200,819 2004 308,592 247,988 2005 378,837 288,273 2006 398,704 363,384 2007 441,903 418,020 2008 563,020 530,636 Source: Kobe Branch Customs Fukuyama Branch Customs * Amounts from 1996 - 2007 are established figures. Amounts from 2008 are preliminary figures.