According to the General Administration of Customs, exports in the first ten months of the year totalled 20.8 trillion yuan (about 2.9 trillion dollars), up 6.7 per cent, while imports totalled 15.22 trillion yuan (about 2.12 trillion dollars), up 3.2 per cent.

Among exports, electromechanical products accounted for 12.36 billion yuan (about 1.72 billion dollars), or 59.4 per cent of the total export value.

Overseas sales of ships, automobiles and motorcycles also grew rapidly, with increases of 74.9 per cent, 20 per cent and 24.6 per cent, respectively.

On the other hand, exports of household appliances and general machinery increased by 16.1% and 14.5% respectively.

On the import side, energy and mineral products rose by 5.1% and 4.9% respectively.

Imports of electromechanical products totalled 5.75 trillion yuan (about $802.51 billion), up 8.6 per cent. Customs data also showed that trade with Belt and Road Initiative countries was 16.94 trillion yuan (about $2.36 billion), up 6.2 per cent.

Transactions with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached 5.67 trillion yuan (about $790.79 billion), consolidating its position as China’s largest trading partner.

In the same period, trade with the European Union, the United States and South Korea was 4.64 trillion yuan ($647.14 billion), 4.01 trillion yuan ($559.27 billion) and 1.91 trillion yuan ($266.38 billion) respectively.

Similarly, trade with the BRICS countries was 5.12 trillion yuan ($714.08 billion) and with Latin America 3.09 trillion yuan ($430.96 billion), an increase of 9.1 per cent.

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