The offshore engineering and shipbuilding sector is a major driver of Qidong's foreign trade growth. [Photo/WeChat account: qidongfabu]

Qidong recorded a total foreign trade volume of 25.7 billion yuan ($3.61 billion) from January to September, a year-on-year increase of 7.1 percent. Exports reached 21.7 billion yuan, marking a strong growth of 27.6 percent.

Several key industrial sectors posted solid performance in the first three quarters. The electric tools sector achieved 2.08 billion yuan in imports and exports, up 29.67 percent. The pharmaceutical and chemical sector reached 2.09 billion yuan, an increase of 17.36 percent. The textiles sector recorded 890 million yuan, growing 9.63 percent. The food sector totaled 530 million yuan, up 17.51 percent.

Offshore engineering and shipbuilding products continued to boost the city's exports. In September, the Nguya, China's largest floating liquefied natural gas facility in both tonnage and storage capacity, departed from Lyusi Port for the Republic of the Congo.

Qidong is home to leading offshore engineering enterprises such as COSCO Shipping Offshore and CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering. In the first three quarters, the offshore engineering and shipbuilding sector reported imports and exports totaling 15.43 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 29.4 percent.