Statistics showed that Xiamen's import volume increased 3.2 percent year-on-year to 218.37 billion yuan ($32.29 billion) while the export volume increased 13.6 percent to 225.95 billion yuan from January to June.

In June alone, the city's imports hit 85.23 billion yuan, an increase of 12.7 percent, while its exports hit 43.93 billion yuan, an increase of 23.6 percent.

From January to June, Xiamen's trade with BRICS countries reached 38.42 billion yuan, an increase of 20.4 percent. Forty percent of Xiamen's imports from BRICS countries were metal ores and sand while its major exports to the BRICS countries were textile garments and shoes.

Statistics showed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the United States, and the European Union were Xiamen's top three trade partners in the first half of this year. Their import and export volumes with Xiamen reached 84.57 billion yuan, 65.77 billion yuan, and 51.12 billion yuan, respectively.

In addition, Xiamen's import and export volume with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative increased 16.7 percent to 151.88 billion yuan during the first six months.

During the same period, the city's private companies achieved a total import and export volume of 167.96 billion yuan, an increase of 11.1 percent, and accounted for 37.8 percent of the city's total, while that of the State-owned companies and foreign-invested companies accounted for 36 percent and 26.2 percent, respectively.

According to statistics, mechanical and electrical products, as well as labor-intensive products such as textiles and garments, were the major exports during the January-to-June period, amounting to 97.54 billion yuan and 64.5 billion yuan, which accounted for 43.2 percent and 28.5 percent of the city's total, respectively.

During the same period, mechanical and electrical products as well as agricultural produce were the major imports, reaching 44.25 billion yuan and 40.47 billion yuan, which accounted for 20.3 percent and 18.5 percent of the city's total, respectively.