Statistics showed that the import and export volume of Xiamen in Fujian province increased 5.9 percent year-on-year to 275.53 billion yuan ($40.54 billion) in the first four months of this year.

Of which, its imports grew 0.4 percent year-on-year to 134.88 billion yuan while its exports grew 11.8 percent to 140.65 billion yuan in the first four months.

From January to April, Xiamen's trade with BRICS countries increased by 4.7 percent to 20.89 billion yuan, with metallic ore and ore as the major imports, and textiles and electronic components were the major exports.

In addition, Xiamen's trade with countries involved in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement during the first four months reached 93.36 billion yuan, an increase of 1.4 percent. Of which, Xiamen's export scale to Myanmar, Cambodia, and Australia increased over 50 percent compared to the same period last year.

During the same period, the import and export volumes of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the United States, and the European Union with Xiamen grew 15.1 percent, 15.1 percent, and 20.2 percent to 52.3 billion yuan, 39.94 billion yuan and 32.83 billion yuan, respectively.

Statistics also showed that mechanical and electrical products, as well as labor-intensive products such as textiles and garments, were the major exports, growing 12.7 percent and 16.3 percent year-on-year to 64.76 billion yuan and 38.07 billion yuan, respectively.

Mechanical and electrical products as well as agricultural produce were the major imports, reaching 28.88 billion yuan and 24.6 billion yuan in the first four months, an increase of 1.5 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively.

During the same period, the city's private companies achieved a total of 102.18 billion yuan in import and export volume, an increase of 7.1 percent year-on-year and accounted for 37.1 percent of the city's total, while that of the State-owned companies and foreign-invested companies accounted for 35.1 percent and 27.8 percent, respectively.

A bird's-eye view of the Lego-like shipping containers at Xiamen Port in Fujian province. [Photo/WeChat account: xiamen_swj]