Ningbo's total import and export value topped 402.85 billion yuan ($60.28 billion), up by 11.3 percent year-on-year, in the first six months of 2018, according to the city's customs office.

Of this total, the value of goods imported was 145.41 billion yuan while that of goods exported was 257.44 billion yuan.

Private and foreign-funded companies, contributing to 91.7 percent of the total trade value, are the main driving forces of Ningbo's foreign trade.

The top three export markets of Ningbo are the European Union, the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The major exports to these markets are mechanical and electrical products.

With the rapid development of bilateral ties between Ningbo and the 16 Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) in recent years, the trade between the two sides saw robust growth as well. From January to June this year, Ningbo's import and export value with CEEC surpassed 11.65 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23 percent.