DSM NV has raised its 2010 sales target for China by 50 percent to US$1.5 billion, the Dutch chemical group said yesterday.

"The original target of US$1 billion of revenues being derived from China by 2010 is now expected to be achieved well in advance of this time," it said in a statement, adding that 2007 China sales could run between US$900 million and US$950 million.

"Nutritional products and environmentally friendly materials will be the key focus of DSM's China development strategy over the next five to 10 years," Jiang Weiming, president of DSM China, said earlier this month in Shanghai while opening a new plant.