Changsha's foreign trade performance in the first half of 2022 was unveiled on July 21. According to statistics from the Xingsha Customs, the city's total import and export value hit 164.51 billion yuan from January to June, an increase of 26% year on year, and accounted for 50.5% of the province's total. Exports rose 35.4% to 122.92 billion yuan, while imports increased 4.5% to 41.59 billion yuan.

In the January-June period, Changsha's imports and exports via general trade grew 40% to 147.16 billion yuan, accounting for 89.5% of the city's total import and export value in the same period. With the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) coming into force, Changsha's trade "circle of friends" has been expanding. In the first six months, Changsha's trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached 36.11 billion yuan, up 41.9% year on year, and ASEAN remained its largest trading partner. During this period, Changsha's trade with countries and regions along the Belt and Road reached 60.84 billion yuan, up 43.1%. Meanwhile, imports and exports between Changsha and the other RCEP member countries stood at 56.07 billion yuan, up 24.8%, and the city's trade with Africa amounted to 12.33 billion yuan, up 99.7%.

In terms of foreign trade entities, private enterprises have improved their vitality and played a prominent role in stabilizing foreign trade. Imports and exports by private enterprises in Changsha came in at 142.32 billion yuan in the first half of the year, up 40.6% year on year and accounting for 86.5% of the city's total import and export value during the period.

Mechanical and electrical products and labor-intensive products have obvious advantages in going global. Changsha exported 51.46 billion yuan of mechanical and electrical products from January to June, an increase of 21% year on year, and accounted for 41.9% of the province's total export value of mechanical and electrical products in the same period. Meanwhile, the city's exports of labor-intensive products expanded 61.2% to 34.42 billion yuan, accounting for 28% of the province's total exports of labor-intensive products.

Source: en.changsha.gov.cn