Maoming's total import-export value with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) saw a year-on-year increase of 54.3 percent to 2.39 billion yuan ($369.33 million) in the first five months of 2021, according to statistics recently released by Maoming Customs.

Of the total increase, the export value in the first five months was 1.84 billion yuan, an increase of 83.6 percent year on year, while the import value reached 550 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1 percent.

In terms of trade methods, Maoming's import and export with countries along the BRI routes in general trade from Jan to May saw an increase of 52.4 percent to 2.34 billion yuan, or 97.9 percent of the total foreign trade. The import and export total of bonded logistics reached 36.65 million yuan.

In terms of enterprise categories, the imports and exports of private enterprises in Maoming to the BRI countries and regions saw a year-on-year increase of 55.4 percent to 2.28 billion yuan, comprising 95.5 percent of the total import-export value.

Foreign-funded enterprises in Maoming had a total import-export volume of 62.68 million yuan, a 66.2 percent year-on-year increase and 2.6 percent of the total foreign trade. The import and export of State-owned enterprises reached 44.95 million yuan, up 6.1 percent year on year.

Over the same period, the city's imports and exports to ASEAN countries reached 1.31 billion yuan, up 26.5 percent year on year, while those to India and Saudi Arabia were 230 million yuan and 160 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 74.1 percent and 591.6 percent respectively.

The city exported 700 million yuan of mechanical and electronic products, up 102.4 percent year on year. The export of labor intensive products amounted to 500 million yuan, up 131 percent, while that of aquatic products amounted to 200 million yuan, increasing by 62 percent.

It imported 230 million yuan of vulcanized rubber gloves, up 50.4 percent year on year. Imports of pistachio nuts were 74.18 million yuan, up 546.6 percent, while those of lignite totaled 43.79 million yuan, increasing by 6 percent.