The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said Tuesday Chinese banks' foreign exchange surplus on behalf of clients hit US$29.1 billion in August, up 9.4 percent from the previous month.

Foreign exchange sales to banks totaled US$113.2 billion in August while foreign exchange purchases from banks amounted to US$84.1 billion, according to a statement on the SAFE website.

On behalf of clients, Chinese banks received US$163.4 billion and paid US$137.1 billion in overseas-related business in August.

The statement did not give reasons for the surplus rise.

The surplus of Chinese banks' forex purchases and sales on behalf of clients totaled US$26.6 billion in July.

The banks purchased US$114.2 billion of forex and sold US$87.6 billion of forex to clients in July.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2010)