BEIJING, Oct.3 (Xinhua) -- China imported 110,000 tons of milk powder in the first seven months of this year, a decrease of 18.3 percent on the same period of last year, according to the General Administration of Customs.

However, the import value went up 3.1 percent to 380 million U.S. dollars.

The seven months saw a big decline in imports of milk powder for industrial use but a rapid increase in arrivals of milk powder for infants.

Between January and July, 62,000 tons of milk powder for industrial use, or 56.7 percent of the total, was imported, down 33.3 percent, and 22,000 tons of milk powder for infants arrived, up 32.3 percent.

Imports from New Zealand dropped whereas those from other places increased.

From January to July, China imported 64,000 tons of milk powder, or 58.5 percent of the total, from New Zealand, down 28.8 percent. Meanwhile, it bought 15,000 tons from the European Union, up 38.9 percent, 12,000 tons from the ASEAN members, up 48.5 percent, and 10,000 tons from Australia, up 11.8 percent.