Ningbo Zhoushan Port is shrouded in mist. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Ningbo's total imports and exports hit 1.05 trillion yuan ($147.69 billion) in the first three quarters of this year, marking a 10.3 percent increase compared to the corresponding period last year, according to data recently released by Ningbo Customs.

Breaking down the figures, exports amounted to 697.76 billion yuan, an 11 percent increase year-on-year, while imports expanded by 9 percent to 356.08 billion yuan.

Private enterprises continue to be the primary engine driving Ningbo's foreign trade growth. Between January and September, imports and exports by private enterprises hit 800.21 billion yuan, reflecting an 11.6 percent increase year-on-year and accounting for 75.9 percent of the city's total imports and exports.

During this period, the city's top three trading partners were the United States, the European Union, and the ASEAN. Trade with these three economies was valued at 180.94 billion yuan, 180.48 billion yuan, and 136.85 billion yuan, respectively, representing increases of 13.5 percent, 10.2 percent, and 21 percent.

Additionally, the city's trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative rose by 9.4 percent to 461.88 billion yuan. Over the same period, Ningbo's trade volume with CEE nations reached 42.49 billion yuan, up 12.3 percent year-on-year.

Ningbo's advantageous products - mechanical and electrical products, recorded 398.55 billion yuan in export volume in the nine-month period, representing an 11.9 percent increase year-on-year.

Ningbo's imports of metal ores, unwrought copper, primary plastics, refined oil, natural gas, and aluminum products amounted to 48.91 billion yuan, 27.94 billion yuan, 25.24 billion yuan, 17.39 billion yuan, 6.16 billion yuan, and 5.02 billion yuan, up by 23.9 percent, 4.7 percent, 7.5 percent, 32.3 percent, 25.8 percent, and 27.6 percent, respectively.