China's software industry took 126 billion yuan (18.45 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue in the first two months of 2009, up 20.8 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said.

 

But the growth was 7.9 percentage points slower than the same period last year, the ministry said.

 

Revenue generated by software technology service rose 23.8 percent to 26.23 billion yuan during the period, but the growth was 14.5 percentage points slower than the same period in 2008.

 

The statistics also showed software exports rose 34.7 percent to 1.98 billion U.S. dollars from January to February, but the growth was 9.4 percentage points slower year-on-year.

 

Industrial output of electronics fell 9.4 percent, and its exports plunged 19 percent in the first two months, the ministry said.

 

Among all electronic products, productions of integrated circuits rose 16.4 percent to 6.29 billion pieces, but that of computers, handsets and color TV sets fell 4.3 percent, 11.2 percent and 21.4 percent, respectively.