Zhongshan sees steady increase in foreign trade since 2017. Import and export show a rapid growth in the first half of last year, and a slowing growth in the second half.

According to Zhongshan Customs, in 2017, Zhongshan’s foreign trade value for the first time exceeded 250bn yuan, reaching 258.15bn yuan with a 15.4% growth from 2016. Specifically, the total export value was 205.56bn yuan, up by 16.6%, and that of import was 52.59bn yuan, up by 10.9%.

Private enterprises made great contribution to the growth, while import and export of general trade saw rapid growth. In 2017, Zhongshan's import and export value of general trade increased 25.7% to 131.85bn yuan, accounting for 51.1% of the total import and export value during the same period. Import and export value of foreign-invested enterprises was 145.28bn yuan, up by 6.9% and accounting for 56.3% of the total. Foreign trade value of private enterprises was 99.37bn yuan, up by 32.2% and accounting for 38.5% of the total. State-owned enterprises generated 13.51bn yuan import and export value, increased by 7.5%.

Last year, Zhongshan saw obvious growth in foreign trade to major trading markets except Hong Kong, and steady-state growth to countries along “The Belt and Road”. The export of mechanical and electrical products and traditional labor-intensive products experienced a steady increase.