Ningbo's import, export trade hits 721.8b yuan in H1

Customs officers in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, visit enterprises to learn about their production operations. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

According to Ningbo Customs, Ningbo's total value of imports and exports hit 721.8 billion yuan ($99.56 billion) in the first half of 2025, increasing by 6.1 percent year-on-year.

Exports sprang up to 490.44 billion yuan, up 10.1 percent year-on-year, while imports came in at 231.36 billion yuan.

In the first six months, imports and exports conducted by private enterprises in Ningbo hit 559.24 billion yuan, a gain of 8.8 percent year-on-year, contributing 6.7 percentage points to the city's overall foreign trade growth.

Ningbo Corelead Optoelec Tech Co Ltd, a manufacturer of LED in Ningbo, generated exports worth 71 million yuan. A Ningbo Customs official said that private enterprises like Corelead Optoelec Tech were playing a key role in promoting the transformation in trade and the upgrading of the metropolis.

The European Union was Ningbo's biggest trading partner in the period. Trade with the EU hit 127.85 billion yuan from January to June, increasing 12.1 percent year-on-year.

Ningbo Sentian Pet Supplies Co Ltd recently received Halloween orders from Europe and began production early. Zhang Guanping, chairman of the company, said they are focusing on the European market. Current orders are scheduled through to the end of the year, with nearly 1,000 items shipped daily.

Trade with the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative hit 364.57 billion yuan in the half, a year-on-year increase of 13.4 percent, accounting for 50.5 percent of Ningbo's total trade. Electromechanical products remained the leading export category, accounting for 58.3 percent of Ningbo's total exports in the period.

In terms of imports, Ningbo saw steady growth in raw materials and high-tech products, while imports of bulk commodities declined due to falling prices.

Imports of copper materials and basic organic chemicals each increased by over 10 percent, while imports of alcoholic beverages and drinks saw a massive year-on-year increase of 64.4 percent.