The Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS) and Economic Daily Newspaper Group jointly released the 18th Report on Urban Competitiveness in China in Beijing on Oct 22. Maoming was included on two lists ranking competitiveness.

The city ranked 107th on the comprehensive economic competitiveness ranking list and 101st on the sustainable competitiveness list.

In recent years, Maoming has been extending its petrochemical industry chain centered around the Maoming Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. It has attracted many renowned enterprises from home and abroad, including Germany-based BASF Group, France-based Air Liquide, Shandong Luhua Chemical Co Ltd, as well as Liaoning Oxiranchem Inc.

Sinopec Maoming Petrochemical Company has an annual petroleum refinery distillation capacity of 20 million metric tons, as well as an annual ethylene production capacity of 1.1 million tons.

The Bohe New Harbor of Maoming Port was put into operation in March 2019. A number of major projects have settled in the harbor area, including the western Guangdong LNG (liquefied natural gas) receiving station project, the Bohe Power Plant project, as well as the edible oil comprehensive processing project invested in by Daodaoquan Grain and Oil Co Ltd.

The power unit 1 at Bohe Power Plant in Maoming is put into operation on Sept 10. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]

In 2019, Maoming realized a regional GDP of 325.2 billion yuan ($48.71 billion). Its GDP has been seventh in Guangdong province, as well as first in east, west, and north Guangdong for many years.