Chain operations are playing a dominant role in catering industry of many Chinese cities, according to a report released by the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday.

Figures show the business volume of fast food service in coastal provinces is much higher than that of dinner service.

In southern China's Guangdong Province, the fast food market share is as high as 90 percent. In eastern Jiangsu Province, Shanghai City, Liaoning Province, Beijing City, Zhejiang Province and Shandong Province, the fast food businesses all account for more than half of the total catering sales.

For most hinterland provinces, however, the dinner service is still playing a dominant role in local catering industry, the ministry said.

The ministry predicts that in 2006, the per head catering consumption in China will grow 17.6 percent to 800 yuan (US$100), and the total retail sales of the industry will reach 1.04 trillion yuan, up 17 percent year on year.