Shanxi's foreign trade growth ranks first nationally in Jan-May

The foreign trade value of North China's Shanxi province was 90.46 billion yuan ($14.12 billion) in the first five months of this year, up 110.3 percent year-on-year, and the growth rate ranked first in China, according to provincial customs department Taiyuan Customs.

From January to May, Shanxi's exports and imports reached 56.11 billion yuan and 34.35 billion yuan, respectively. For May alone, the total import and export value increased 159.3 percent to 19.62 billion yuan.

The processing trade was the main mode of foreign trade in Shanxi and grew exponentially during the period.

The province's imports and exports to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative doubled, and foreign trade volume with major trading partners such as the United States, Japan, ASEAN, BRICS and the European Union increased significantly.

The export volume of mobile phones grew rapidly and accounted for more than 60 percent of the total volume. The export volume of integrated circuit parts, mobile phone parts (except antennas), solar cells and protective medical gloves also grew considerably.