The busy Zhongshan Port cargo berth. [Photo by Xia Shengquan]

According to statistics by the Zhongshan Customs, Zhongshan's total import and export value amounted up to 139.63 billion yuan in the first 7 months of 2019, with a year-on-year increase of 6.9%. Specifically, export recorded 112.57 billion yuan, an increase of 12.6%, and import recorded 27.06 billion yuan, a decrease of 11.6%. The import and export, as well as the export growth rate were higher than the province's figures.

During the first 7 months, private companies continued to maintain a more than 20% growth rate. It also witnessed a slight increase in the total imports and exports than in the first half of 2019. According to statistics, private companies import and export reached 52.24 billion yuan, representing an increase of 22.8% and accounting for 37.4% of the total; those of state-owned enterprises reached 8.46 billion yuan, thereby representing an increase of 14.4%, accounting for 6.1%; while those of foreign-funded enterprises slightly declined.

In terms of product types, mechanical and electrical products exports reached up to 81.87 billion yuan, representing an increase of 11.5%, accounting for 72.7% of the total. Besides, the exports of lamps, lighting devices and components reached 5.44 billion yuan, representing an increase of 44.0%.

The growth rate of import from and export to Europe, America and ASEAN member countries of Zhongshan companies saw a two-digit increase, thus boosting the overall growth.

Trade between Zhongshan companies and the countries along the "Belt and Road" reached 34.3 billion yuan, thus increasing by 10.9% year on year. The top five countries are Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Thailand and Singapore, in terms of total import and export value.

Meanwhile, Zhongshan's export value in the market procurement trade mode totaled 6.9 billion yuan from January to July. Export to countries along the "Belt and Road" reached 2.96 billion yuan, accounting for about 30%.

In July, Zhongshan's import and export value totaled 21.35 billion yuan, with an increase of 6.7%.