Imports in East China's Fujian province rises to 122.15 billion yuan, up 7.1 percent year-on-year, in the first three months of this year. [Photo/Xinhua] 

Foreign trade in East China's Fujian province totaled 287.42 billion yuan ($40.62 billion) in the first quarter of this year, a decrease of 3.6 percent year-on-year, according to statistics released by Fuzhou Customs. 

In the first three months, the province's exports were 165.27 billion yuan, down 10.3 percent year-on-year, and its imports totaled 122.15 billion yuan, up 7.1 percent year-on-year, according to customs authorities. 

Statistics showed that imports of metallic mineral ore, coal and paper pulp saw a year-on-year growth of 49.3 percent, 75.8 percent and 26 percent respectively.

The province's foreign trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations maintained steady growth in the first three months, and the ASEAN was still Fujian's largest trade partner during that period.

Foreign trade in Fujian makes up a major portion of the province's GDP; in 2019, the province recorded a GDP of 4.2 trillion yuan, while the total value of foreign trade hit 1.3 trillion yuan, growing 7.8 percent year-on-year and ranking seventh in the country. 

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, foreign trade enterprises in Fujian have struggled; the government has done its utmost to facilitate foreign trade and investment and support economic development. 

Local authorities said that the provincial department of commerce will roll out supportive measures to promote the development of certain key projects to counter the impact of the pandemic and stabilize foreign trade.