ASEAN becomes Ningbo's No 2 trading partner

Ningbo Customs officials advise an employee at a company. [Photo/Tide News]

From January to August, ASEAN grew to become Ningbo's second-biggest trade partner, reflecting deepening regional integration and growing economic cooperation.

According to Ningbo Customs, bilateral trade reached 139.62 billion yuan ($19.62 billion) in this period, up 16.6 percent year-on-year. Exports totaled 76.92 billion yuan, up 19.8 percent, while imports reached 62.7 billion yuan, up 13 percent.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP is widely seen as continuing to boost the connectivity.

Moreover, Ningbo's strategic port advantages and robust automotive supply chain have positioned it as a key entry point for ASEAN auto parts into China. Meanwhile, its advanced manufacturing base — especially in textiles and electronics — is complementing ASEAN's industrial strengths.

Local companies are capitalizing on the momentum. Xinle Household Appliances Co Ltd exported 160 million yuan worth of appliances to Malaysia and the Philippines from January to August, up 31.9 percent.

To support the trade growth, Ningbo Customs has streamlined clearance procedures and expanded its policy guidance. One beneficiary of this was Ningbo Shimaotong International Trade Co Ltd, which printed 599 China-ASEAN free trade area preferential tariff certificates of origin in eight months, enabling over 150 million yuan in exports to benefit from tariff reductions.

"The rise of ASEAN signals deeper supply chain integration and highlights Ningbo's role in China's dual circulation strategy, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while allowing domestic and international markets to reinforce each other," said Zhang Jiaxing of Haishu Customs.

With RCEP gains unfolding, Ningbo-ASEAN trade is poised for further expansion and shared prosperity.