Ningbo's foreign trade surpasses 500b yuan in Jan-April

The container terminal operation site at the Chuanshan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. [Photo by Wu Mengkai/Yongpai App]

Ningbo continued to post steady foreign trade growth in the first four months of 2026, with total imports and exports reaching 501.7 billion yuan ($73.93 billion), up 6.3 percent year-on-year.

Exports rose 4.8 percent to 336.3 billion yuan, while imports climbed 9.3 percent to 165.38 billion yuan.

Private enterprises remained the key driver of growth. During the first four months, Ningbo's private firms recorded 388.46 billion yuan in trade, accounting for 77.4 percent of the city's total foreign trade. Foreign-invested enterprises and State-owned companies also reported steady increases.

Trade with both traditional and emerging markets expanded steadily. Ningbo's trade with the European Union grew 6.9 percent to 87.03 billion yuan, while trade with ASEAN surged 14.4 percent to 76.91 billion yuan. Trade with Africa increased 15.5 percent, and nearly half of Ningbo's total trade came from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Exports of mechanical and electrical products remained dominant, totaling 196.09 billion yuan and accounting for 58.3 percent of total exports. Meanwhile, electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products maintained strong momentum, with exports soaring 144.2 percent year-on-year.

On the import side, demand for raw materials and high-tech products continued to support growth, with strong increases in imports of metal ores, copper products, and natural gas.