BEIJING--China's capital beat the national average for growth in foreign trade in the first half of the year, with the trade deficit widening.

Local customs sources said Tuesday that Beijing generated $185.6 billion in foreign trade over the past six months, a rise of 28.7 percent from the same period of last year. The growth rate was higher than the national average of 25.8 percent.

The total included $27 billion of exports, up 4 percent year-on-year, and $158.6 billion of imports, up 34.1 percent. The trade deficit amounted to $131.6 billion , up 42.6 percent.

Between January and June, Beijing's trade with the European Union stood at $21.72 billion, up 17.3 percent year-on-year, trade with the United States reached $12.52 billion, up 40.9 percent, and trade with Japan hit $10.05 billion, up 15.5 percent.

In June alone, the city sold $520 million worth of goods to Japan, up 68.2 percent year-on-year, and bought $1.45 billion worth from it, up 20.5 percent.

The six months saw Beijing export $1.42 billion worth of rolled steel, up 29.4 percent year-on-year; $630 million worth of farm produce, up 24.6 percent; and $15.63 billion worth of machinery and electronics, down 1 percent.

From January to June, the city imported $36.73 billion worth of machinery and electronics, up 17.8 percent year-on-year, $75.04 billion worth of crude oil, up 37.2 percent, and $7.7 billion worth of iron ore, up 21.2 percent.