QINGDAO achieved US$33.7 billion in foreign trade in the first half of this year, an increase of over 30 percent year on year, according to the city’s commerce bureau.

    The city’s exports rose by 25.6 percent to US$18.8 billion and imports grew by 36.7 percent to US$14.8 billion.

    The foreign trade figures have put the city 4th on the list of domestic sub-provincial cities, higher than last year.

    Domestic enterprises contributed to 50.8 percent of total exports by surpassing US$9.55 billion, a 29.7 percent increase year on year.

    Meanwhile, foreign-invested enterprises contributed less than last year to the total exports, standing at US$9.2 billion.

    General trade was a major driving force behind total exports, which exceeded US$9.3 billion, a 30.5 percent growth over the same period last year.

    The city’s exports to emerging markets increased by 29.2 percent to over US$5.3 billion while exports to traditional markets grew by 23.7 percent to over US$12.5 billion.

    The city’s 12 major exports, such as containers, tires, agricultural produce, chemical products, mechanical products, auto parts, textile and steel material, all saw an increase in the period.

    (Li Hao, Shen Junlin)