TAIPEI: After the first procurement delegation notched up deals worth billions of US dollars in early June, the second group from the mainland is focusing on Taiwan's consumer goods.

More than 70 mainland companies, mostly large department stores, bargained heatedly Monday with about 340 Taiwan business representatives over deals mainly involving food, drinks, garments and daily necessities.

Zhao Wenwu, general manager of Hefei Department Store Group Co., Ltd. in east China's Anhui Province, said the group reached a deal worth 500,000 yuan (US$73,000) with Hey Song Corporation, a leading Taiwan carbonated drink company.

Yu Juan, purchasing director of Beijing-based Wangfujing Department Store Group, said, "Taiwan's consumer products are very attractive to mainland consumers who are paying more attention to health, environmental protection and packaging. These are advantages for many Taiwan products."

Wang Chih-Kang, board chairman of the Taipei World Trade Center, told Xinhua the delegation offered a chance for Taiwan products to "take root" in the mainland market.

"The mainland market has a very strong consumption capacity and Taiwan products should be very competitive," Wang said.

The second delegation, organized by the Mainland Association for Cross-Strait Economic and Trade Exchanges, arrived on the island Sunday for a seven-day product review. They will also visit Tainan City in south Taiwan on Wednesday.

The first group, comprising about 80 representatives from 35 companies, signed deals worth more than US$2.2 billion.

They mostly bought computer and mobile phone equipment, plastic and chemical products, and textiles and handcrafts.