SALES of existing properties fell to a seven-month low in Shanghai in September, a major estate chain said yesterday.

A total of 10,300 units of previously-owned properties were sold in the city last month, down 8.8 percent from August and a tumble of 42 percent annually, said Century 21 China Real Estate.

"The September volume was the lowest since March with most districts and counties suffering double-digit losses," said Huang Hetao, a research manager at Century 21. "For the entire third quarter, 35,000 units of existing properties were traded around the city, the smallest quarterly volume so far this year."

Pudong New Area, Minhang and Baoshan districts led by sales to take up 43 percent of the city's total.