Nokia, the world's top mobile phone maker, exported 6.2 billion euros ($9.18 billion) worth of phones and equipment from the greater China region in 2007, up 30 percent from the previous year, Nokia's China head said on Friday.

"In 2007, our exports (from greater China) were 6.24 billion euros. That is a 30 percent year-on-year increase," Colin Giles told reporters.

Nokia sourced 42.6 billion yuan ($5.96 billion) from mainland Chinese factories, while the company's work force in greater China grew about 78 percent in 2007 to almost 13,300 people.

"It is growing as the business grows," Giles said.

He added that China was Nokia's single largest market globally, taking up 13 percent of global sales.

Nokia's total sales in greater China were 6.4 billion euros last year, up from 5.3 billion in 2006, he said.

Nokia's fourth-quarter earnings were surprisingly strong as sales hit 133.5 million phones, more than its three closest rivals combined.

Nokia has a network of 40 distributors in the mainland where 40 million of its handsets were sold in the fourth quarter of 2007, rising 6.8 percent from the previous quarter, according to data provider Analysys International.

Nokia commanded 35.3 percent of the China market, while Samsung Electronics came in second with 13.2 percent and faltering Motorola had an 11.7 percent slice, Analysys International said. ($1=7.143 Yuan)