China overtook Portugal as the biggest source of merchandise imported by Angola in the third quarter of last year, Lusa reports.

The Portuguese news agency, citing Angolan National Statistics Institute data, says Angolan imports from China were worth 90.9 billion kwanzas (US$543.6 million) in the third quarter, 46 percent more than a year earlier, and accounted for 17.7 percent of the Angolan import bill. Angolan imports from Portugal accounted for 16.1 percent of the import bill.

The report says China remained the biggest market for Angolan exports, mainly oil, which were worth 733.12 billion kwanzas, or 29.7 percent more than a year earlier, and accounted for 52.9 percent of Angolan export receipts.

Portugal accounted for 16.1 percent of export receipts and India for 6.3 percent, Lusa says.