Beijing exported some US$13.46 million worth software to European and American countries in the first quarter this year, a year-on-year rise of 2.8 times, according to the latest customs statistics released on Wednesday.

Figures from the Beijing Customs show that the first quarter software export to European and American countries accounted for 24.4 percent of Beijing's total software export for the same period and was the first time that quarterly software export volume broke the US$10 million line.

Beijing exported software to 20 European and American countries and regions in the first three months this year. Export to the United States alone surged by 73.8 percent year on year to reach US$5.134 million in the January-March this year.

As the leading software export base, Beijing had established more than 3,000 software firms by the end of 2004.

Previously, Beijing mainly exported software to Asian countries. In the first quarter last year, the city exported US$3.52 million of software to European and American countries.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2005)