BEIJING - The e-commerce sector grew rapidly in China's rural areas in the first half of 2019, official data showed.

Online retail sales in rural areas totaled 777.1 billion yuan ($113.6 billion) in H1, according to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce.

The reading, surging 21 percent year-on-year, was 3.2 percentage points higher than the nationwide growth rate.

Meanwhile, online retail sales of agricultural products also saw a notable increase in the period. The sales hit 187.4 billion yuan, up 25.3 percent from one year earlier.

Snacks were the most popular agricultural products, accounting for 25.8 percent of the total sales, followed by tea products and nourishing foods, the statement said.