The output value of the mainland's electronics sector hit 162.62 billion yuan (about HK$151.12 billion) in the first half, up 26.5 per cent compared with the same period last year, Xinhua (the New China News Agency) said yesterday. The sector's pre-tax profits in January-June were 7.2 billion yuan, up 27.4 per cent compared with the same period last year. Production of major electronic products rose in January-June with output of microcomputers up 27.5 per cent year-on-year, and the output of colour TVs up 12 per cent year-on-year. The sales to output ratio in the period was about 94 per cent and sales were expected to reach 99 billion yuan, up more than 18 per cent compared with the 1996 period.