China's packing industry has expanded at an annual rate of 18 percent in recent years, a national conference of the Chinese Packing Technologies Association (CPTA) heard Saturday in Beijing.

The output of packing products, such as plastic woven bags and metal barrels, was among the largest in the world, according to Han Jiazeng, deputy president of the association.

In the mid 1980s, the packing industry in China was underdeveloped, and inadequate products and service caused a loss of 10 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) to the country each year.

As a result of constant innovation and reform, the packing industry has developed greatly. In 2002, the industrial output value of the sector topped 250 billion yuan (US$30 billion), a 34-fold surge over 1980.

There are more than 20,000 packing enterprises in China, employing over three million people, the official said.

(People's Daily October 20,2003)