TRADING between Qingdao and ASEAN countries has increased sharply by more than 50 percent since 2010.

    According to statistics released by the city’s commerce bureau, the trade volume between Qingdao and ASEAN countries was US$5.995 billion last year, accounting for 10.7 percent of the city’s total export-import volume, increasing by 51.4 percent compared with the previous year.

    Among these, export volume was US$1.805 billion, accounting for 5.4 percent of the city’s total export volume, increasing by 52 percent over 2009, while the import volume was US$4.19 billion, accounting for 18.4 percent of the city’s total import volume, increasing by 51.2 percent over 2009.

    Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia were the main trading partners of Qingdao. Last year, the trade volume between Qingdao and the four countries was US$5.158 billion, accounting for 86 percent of the total volume between Qingdao and ASEAN countries. Import volume for rubber increased 122.3 percent to US$1.612 billion, while the import volume of oil was US$586 million, 14 percent of the total import volume from ASEAN countries. Most products exported from Qingdao to ASEAN countries were mechanical equipment, home appliances and electronic products, transport products, vegetables and textiles and clothing, accounting for 49 percent of all products, increasing by 35.8 percent, 36.3 percent, 165.8 percent, 84.3 percent and 27.3 percent respectively compared with 2009.

    Meanwhile, investment from ASEAN countries increased steadily in 2010.

    (Wang Yuanyuan, Zhou Jianliang)