Guangdong records robust imports in first nine months

Guangdong, China's biggest foreign trader, remains a robust importer in the first nine months.

According to statistics released by Guangdong Customs on Thursday, Guangdong's monthly imports have consistently maintained positive year-on-year growth since the beginning of the year.

Among them, the imports of integrated circuits, computers and components, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment have witnessed a year-on-year increase of 14.2 percent, 34.2 percent, and 55.9 percent, respectively, in the first three quarters.

Imports of edible aquatic products, grains, metal ore, and mineral sand also enjoyed a year-on-year growth of 23.8 percent, 15 percent, and 3.7 percent between January and September, the customs statistics revealed.

The good import performance has helped the province achieve a total foreign trade volume of 7.02 trillion yuan ($988.73 billion) in the first nine months, exhibiting remarkable resilience and vitality.

The figure represented a year-on-year 3.8 percent growth and accounted for 20.9 percent of the country's total, according to a statement released by Guangdong Customs.

The province sold 4.48 trillion yuan worth of products abroad while purchasing commodities valued at 2.54 trillion from other countries and regions, up year-on-year 1.4 percent and 8.2 percent respectively.

Guangdong's import and export scale has increased quarter by quarter, with export growth accelerating in the third quarter, said the statement.

The province usually relies heavily on foreign trade to ensure its sustainable economic construction.

The sustained growth of foreign trade this year indicates Guangdong's efforts to diversify its global market have achieved results, the statement said.

In the first three quarters, Guangdong's trade with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative totaled 2.71 trillion yuan, up 4.1 percent year-on-year, 0.3 percentage points faster than the province's overall trade growth, accounting for 38.7 percent of its total trade value.

Meanwhile, Guangdong's trade volume with emerging markets, including the 17 countries in the Middle East, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Africa, and the five Central Asian countries, increased by 4.4 percent, 5.3 percent, 10.2 percent, and 25.5 percent, respectively, all of which outpaced the province's overall trade growth rate, it said.