Jinan's imports, exports total 68.02b yuan in Jan-April period

The foreign trade volume of Jinan, capital city of Shandong province, totaled 68.02 billion yuan ($9.73 billion) in the first four months of this year, the city's customs authorities announced on May 16.

During the same period, exports rose 20.9 percent year-on-year to 43.3 billion yuan, while imports dipped 16.6 percent to 24.72 billion yuan.

Private enterprises were the main drivers of Jinan's imports and exports from January to April, with their imports and exports valued at 42.49 billion yuan, up 16.9 percent year-on-year and accounting for 62.5 percent of the city's total.

From January to April, Jinan's foreign trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Africa amounted to 15.37 billion yuan and 5.84 billion yuan, an increase of 13 percent and 12 percent year-on-year respectively.

In addition, the city's foreign trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative soared 24.1 percent year-on-year to 28.37 billion yuan, while its trade with other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership grew 0.8 percent year-on-year to 23.49 billion yuan.

From January to April, Jinan's major exports – mechanical and electrical products, and agricultural products – increased 31.6 percent and 12.9 percent year-on-year respectively to 27.49 billion yuan and 2.27 billion yuan. Among them, the exports of automobiles surged 49.1 percent to 7.49 billion yuan.

During the same period, Jinan posted an increase in imports of coal and pulp, with their volume amounting to 1.12 billion yuan and 1.07 billion yuan, an increase of 70.3 percent and 19.5 percent year-on-year respectively.