A view of Quzhou in East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/qz123.com]
The imports and exports of Quzhou in East China's Zhejiang province were valued at 10.24 billion yuan ($1.48 billion) in the first two months, a year-on-year increase of 34 percent, the highest growth rate in the province, according to Quzhou Customs.
Exports were valued at 5.99 billion yuan, up 12.8 percent year-on-year, while imports were valued at 4.25 billion yuan, a surge of 82.4 percent year-on-year.
The city's export growth was significantly promoted by steel. From January to February, exports of steel reached 540 million yuan, a 17.4-fold year-on-year increase. Imports of pulp were valued at 1.57 billion yuan, a whopping increase of 169 percent and accounting for 37.1 percent of the city's total imports.
From January to February, the city's trade with ASEAN expanded 270.8 percent to 2.49 billion yuan, accounting for 24.3 percent of the city's total foreign trade.
Imports from ASEAN reached 1.66 billion yuan, an increase of 685.6 percent, accounting for 39.2 percent of the city's total imports.
The city's trade with RCEP member countries and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative totaled 4.16 billion yuan and 4.05 billion yuan, respectively, up 80.2 percent and 135.9 percent.
In this period, 220 million yuan in goods were exported through the customs cross-border e-commerce management platform, an increase of 34.8 percent.
In addition, imports and exports of private enterprises totaled 8.44 billion yuan, an increase of 42 percent. Exports were valued at 4.78 billion yuan, up 21 percent, while imports were valued at 3.66 billion yuan, up 83.5 percent.