Sichuan's foreign trade volume hits record high in 2018

CHENGDU - Foreign trade volume of southwest China's Sichuan province rose 29.2 percent to a historic high of 594.7 billion yuan ($88.1 billion) in 2018, according to local customs authorities Tuesday.

The province's export volume totaled 333.4 billion yuan, up 31.4 percent, while the import volume reached 261.3 billion yuan, an increase of 26.5 percent from the previous year, showed statistics released by the customs of Chengdu, the provincial capital.

The province's trade with the United States, the European Union, ASEAN and Japan topped 404.9 billion yuan, up over 20 percent year-on-year.

Trade with countries along the Belt and Road reached 165.2 billion yuan, an increase of 24.4 percent year on year, accounting for 27.8 percent of Sichuan's total.

Imports and exports with Saudi Arabia surged 190.2 percent, and trade with Brazil, Australia and Russia also saw rapid growth last year.

In terms of exports, mechanical and electrical products still dominated, accounting for 81.3 percent of the province's total exports.