Ford to export more than US$800m of parts and vehicles into the Chinese market.

Ford said it would begin exporting additional automotive products and transmission parts to China, thanks to agreements signed in Washington, DC, on Monday.

The total value of the pact is estimated to be more than $800m.

In one of the company's largest export agreements, Ford will sell more than 30,000 North American-built vehicles in China, starting in 2009.

It also will begin supplying transmission components and parts this year to its passenger car joint venture in China - Changan Ford Mazda Automobile.

"This export programme is just one part of a larger effort to continue momentum for Ford in China," said Robert Graziano, the unit's president and CEO.

Ford boosted first quarter sales in China 47% to 90,791 passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the first quarter of 2008.

The company has not revealed the US and Canadian-built models it will ship but has sold the Escape and Lincoln Navigator there previously.