Santo Domingo.- Dominican trade with China grew by 23.5 percent last year to $612.7 million, according to an analysis from Latin Business Chronicle, the weekly online journal on Latin American business. Imports from China grew by 27.6 percent to $512.8, while Dominican exports to China increased by 5.7 percent to $99.8 million.

Total trade between China and Latin America reached a record $102.6 billion last year, an increase of 46.2 percent from 2006. Brazil posted the strongest growth in trade with China in real terms last year (a whopping $9.4 billion), while Colombia boosted trade most in percentage terms (90.7 percent).

China's trade with Brazil, its top trading partner in Latin America, reached $29.7 billion last year – an increase of 46.4 percent from 2006. Brazil posted the strongest increase in trade last year – a whopping $9.4 billion, while Colombia posted the strongest percentage increase – 90.7 percent.

Haiti posted the strongest growth in Latin American exports to China last year – 363.8 percent. However, the numbers reflect a very small base to begin with. Haiti's exports last year reached a mere $6.3 million – the second-lowest number among Latin American nations, according to the Miami-based Latin Business Chronicle.