On May 18, according to Yiwu Customs, from January to April, Yiwu’s total import and export volume was 165.42 billion RMB, an increase of 15.7% over the same period last year. Yiwu’s exports amounted to 147.64 bn RMB, an increase of 13.0% year-on-year, while the imports were 17.78 bn RMB, a year-on-year increase of 44.7%. The growth rates of Yiwu’s total imports and exports, exports alone, and imports alone were 7.4%, 3.2%, and 40.7% higher than Zhejiang’s averages, and their volume accounted for 10.6%, 12.8%, and 4.4% of that of Zhejiang, respectively, with an increase of 0.6%, 0.4%, and 1.2% year-on-year.

The exports of market procurement trade accounted for more than 70% of the total export volume. From January to April, the exports of market procurement trade in Yiwu reached 112.04 bn RMB, an increase of 11.9% compared with last year, accounting for 75.9% of the total export value of Yiwu. Imports and exports through general trade were 44.08 bn RMB, increasing by 21.6% year-on-year.

Major trade markets maintained steady growth. From January to April, Yiwu’s imports and exports to Africa totaled 300.3 bn RMB, a year-on-year increase of 24.3%; imports and exports to Latin America reached 23.98 bn RMB, an increase of 28.0% year-on-year; imports and exports to countries along the Belt and Road were 62.93 bn RMB, increasing by 14.8%. In addition, exports to India, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil were 8.65 bn RMB, 4.14 bn RMB, and 3.90 bn RMB, increasing by 11.3%, 56.1%, and 49.1%, respectively.

Mechanical and electrical products and labor-intensive products accounted for nearly 80% of the exports. From January to April, the exports of mechanical and electrical products reached 58.47 bn RMB, an increase of 11.5%, accounting for 39.6% of Yiwu’s total export volume and contributing 35.6% to Yiwu’s export growth. The exports of labor-intensive products were 57.05 bn RMB, increasing by 15.8%, accounting for 38.6% of Yiwu’s total export value, and contributing 46.0% to Yiwu’s export growth. During the same period, the exports of high-tech products were 11.87 bn RMB, up by 8.3%. (By Gong Shuhong, translated by Jin Haiqiong, edited by Kendra Fiddler)