China's Heilongjiang sees robust goods trade growth in first 9 months

Aerial photo taken on June 8, 2022 shows a view of Suifenhe Area of China (Heilongjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

HARBIN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's northernmost province of Heilongjiang saw its foreign trade in goods grow 15.1 percent year on year to 218.22 billion yuan (about 29.82 billion U.S. dollars) in the first nine months of 2023, said local customs.

During this period, Heilongjiang's imports rose 7.1 percent year on year to 164.13 billion yuan, while its exports surged by 49.1 percent to 54.09 billion yuan, data from Harbin Customs showed.

The province's trade with the Belt and Road partner countries reached 184.25 billion yuan, up 15.6 percent year on year, accounting for 84.4 percent of the province's total foreign trade volume. Its trade with members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership rose 22.9 percent to 19.97 billion yuan.

Its exports of mechanical and electrical products, labor-intensive products, and agricultural products maintained strong growth during this period. The province also saw an increase in imports of agricultural products, metal ore, and ore sand.