BEIJING -- More than 160 tons of Taiwan-produced grapefruit are bound for Beijing and Shanghai, Chinese mainland's two largest cities, ready for market before January 1, according to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

The purchase was made between the logistics center in Taiwan's Yun Lin County and the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives in September, said Li Weiyi, the office's spokesman on Wednesday.

Some Taiwan-grown oranges were also expected to enter Chinese mainland markets by February, he said, without giving the amount.

A Chinese mainland team was sent to Taiwan Province in September to visit local fruit producing areas and agricultural trade markets. It reached an agreement to purchase some 2,000 tons of fruits, including grapefruits, oranges, bananas and mangos.

A notice released in April by the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said more fruit, vegetables and seafood from Taiwan Province would be allowed to be sold to the Chinese mainland. This was in a bid to help Taiwanese farmers sell their products.

In 2005, Taiwan Province exported 3,400 tons of fruit to the Chinese mainland, worth US$3.22 million, an increase of 35 percent over 2004.