According to Yichang Customs, in the first two months of this year, the total value of imports and exports in Yichang reached 6.48 billion yuan, an increase of 10.3% compared to the same period last year, among which, exports amounted to 5.09 billion yuan, a slight decrease of 4.4%, while imports surged by 150.7% to 1.39 billion yuan.

　　General trade, processing trade, and bonded logistics imports and exports all maintained growth. In the first two months, general trade totaled 5.3 billion yuan, increasing by 14.3% and accounting for 81.8% of the city’s total import and export value. This reflects an increase of 2.6 percentage points from the same period last year. Additionally, imports and exports of processing trade amounted to 660 million yuan, up by 39.3%, accounting for 10.2%; while bonded logistics imports and exports stood at 460 million yuan, soaring by 152.7%, accounting for 7.1%.

　　Private enterprises played a leading role in import and export. In the first two months, the import and export volume of private enterprises reached 4.91 billion yuan, up by 14.3% and, accounting for 75.8% to the total. It is an increase of 2.4 percentage points from the same period last year. Meanwhile, state-owned enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises imported and exported 900 million yuan and 660 million yuan respectively, accounting for 13.9% and 10.2%.

　　Exports to the top three trading partners all maintained growth. In the first two months, exports to the top three trading partners ASEAN countries, the EU, and the United States reached 1.5 billion yuan, 1.03 billion yuan, and 600 million yuan respectively, increasing by 48.9%, 58.6%, and 46.8% respectively. During the same period, exports to Brazil grew rapidly by 212%. Additionally, exports to Belt and Road countries totaled 3.37 billion yuan, up by 0.4%; while exports to other RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) members reached 2.11 billion yuan, up by 18.9%.

　　The proportion of mechanical and electrical products in exports increased. Mechanical and electrical products exports reached 1.25 billion yuan, up by 150.3%, accounting for 24.6% of the city’s total exports during the same period, and an increase of 15.3 percentage points from the same period last year. Among them, exports of ships, lamps, and lighting fixtures and their parts, electrical equipment, and auto parts reached 150 million yuan, 130 million yuan, 110 million yuan, and 90 million yuan respectively, with growth rates of 6.7%, 536.3%, 84.4%, and 209.4% respectively. Meanwhile, labor-intensive product exports reached 850 million yuan, up by 255.5%, accounting for 16.6%, and agricultural product exports reached 680 million yuan, up by 57.1%, accounting for 13.3%.

　　Mechanical and electrical products and consumer goods were the main force driving imports. Imports of mechanical and electrical products reached 380 million yuan and consumer goods reached 260 million yuan, up by 592.8% and 155.3% respectively, totaling 45.6% of the city’s total imports during the same period. Imports of bulk commodities such as iron ore, grain, and coal reached 180 million yuan, an increase of 58.7% and accounting for 12.8%. Additionally, imports of high-tech products grew by 148.1%, accounting for 3.9%. (Reporter/Wang Fei, Correspondent/Liu Lingqiao)