Many vessels are seen at a dock in Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]
The foreign trade volume in Zhangjiagang, a county-level city in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, reached $19.26 billion during the first five months of 2022, up 19.4 percent year-on-year, data from the city's customs authorities showed.
The imports and exports over the same period were $10.98 billion and $8.28 billion, up 19.6 percent and 19.1 percent respectively compared to last year.
Zhangjiagang's foreign trade in May alone was $4.54 billion, an increase of 25.9 percent over April and a record high.
From January to May, the city saw growth in trade with all its major partners, including Brazil, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States. Key industries, including textile, clothing, mechanical and electrical equipment, as well as steel, all saw a rise in exports in the five months.
Zhangjiagang government has taken multiple measures to spur its foreign trade growth. For example, it has been helping companies shift to e-commerce platforms, better understand latest relevant policies, maintain production despite the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as participate in the Canton Fair to explore overseas markets.