It was learned from Yichang Customs that Yichang’s total import and export value of foreign trade had achieved 7.47 billion RMB for the first 7 months, up 0.4% compared with the same time last year. Of which, exports attained 5.92 billion RMB, up 3.3%; imports 1.54 billion RMB, up 9.2%. Total import and export value ranked 3rd in Hubei Province.

　　According to statistics, total import ＆ export value rose sharply in July. For the first 3 months, total import & export value had fallen year-on-year. Affected by the Spring Festival, it amounted to 0.67 billion RMB in February, lowest within the year and 1.68 billion RMB in July, up 21.5%, highest within the year.

　　Export of agricultural products had grown steadily in Yichang for the first 7 months. It attained 1.06 billion RMB, increasing 10.9%; export of mechanical and electrical products 0.86 billion RMB, dropping 15%; export of high-tech products (having something in common with mechanical and electrical products, similarly hereinafter) 0.41 billion RMB, down 18.6%. Calculated on the basis of single commodity, aluminium foil (not backed), yeast, diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate, medical gauze and sodium triphosphate had been top five exports in Yichang.

　　The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is still the largest trade partner. Imports and exports to Japan and South Korea grew significantly. For the first 7 months, Yichang\'s bilateral trade with ASEAN had amounted to 1.18 billion RMB, up 29.6%; Yichang\'s bilateral trade with EU 1.11 billion RMB, down 23.5%; Yichang\'s bilateral trade with USA 0.96 billion RMB, down 3.8%. (Reporter Pei Shujing and Correspondent Zhang Lingzi)