QINGDAO’S foreign trade has made a good start this year, according to customs statistics. The total export and import volume was US$6.268 billion in January, up 53.9 percent from a year ago.

    Export volume was US$3.456 billion, up 46.7 percent, while import volume was US$2.812 billion, up 63.7 percent. The figures were the highest so far.

    Private companies exported goods worth US$1.147 billion in January, increasing by 66.5 percent from a year ago, while exports by foreign-funded and State-owned companies totaled US$1.712 billion and US$354 million, increasing by 40.6 percent and 38.2 percent respectively.

    The export volume for general trade was US$1.741 billion and the volume for processing trade was US$1.586 billion, increasing by 57.6 percent and 43 percent. Agricultural products’ export volume was US$495 million, 66.3 percent more than January last year, while volume for textile and clothing industry was US$674 million, increasing by 49.9 percent. The export volume of US$2.345 billion was in traditional markets, while about US$737 million was in new markets, increasing by 49 percent and 31.7 percent respectively.

    Since 2011, the city’s commerce department has sent 12 teams to foreign trade companies, helping them learn the policies and international market and solve problems in operation.

     (Wang Yuanyuan, Zhou Jianliang)