China's customs revenues surged 19.17 percent year on year in the first ninth months of the year to almost 462 billion yuan (US$58.47 billion), the General Administration of Customs said Tuesday.

Of the total, tariffs account for 87 billion yuan. The remaining 375 billion yuan is value-added tax and other taxes imposed on imports.

The sustained rapid growth of customs revenues is due to buoyant imports driven by dynamic growth in investment, consumption and exports, an administration spokesperson said.

Drastic rises in the prices of energy and mineral products in the international market since the beginning of the year also contributed to growth in import duties, the spokesperson said.

Customs figures show that the country's imports of energy and mineral products rose 41.2 percent in value in the first three quarters of the year.

Improved tariff collection capacity is also a major factor in the growth of customs revenue, the spokesperson added.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2006)