Zhejiang foreign trade posted double-digit growth in the first seven months of the year, according to data released by Hangzhou Customs on Aug 15.

The imports and exports, totaling 1.44 trillion yuan ($216.36 billion), rose 17.8 percent year on year in the January-July period. The value of exports was 1.1 trillion yuan and the imports 342.49 billion yuan, up 12.5 percent and 38.6 percent year on year respectively.

Monthly double-digit growth of imports was maintained, rising above 30 percent from January to June and above 20 percent in July.

The exports, exceeding 1 trillion yuan in the first seven months, saw greater product categorization. Mechanical and electrical products, worth 474.28 billion yuan, made up 43.1 percent of the total export value. The exports of products from some labor intensive industries like furniture, plastic and toys grew 19.2 percent, 13.7 percent and 64.2 percent respectively, all higher than the provincial total.

High-tech products maintained a steady and strong growth from January to July, at 11.5 percent.

In addition, new engines are contributing to a better trade structure in Zhejiang. The export value of cross-border e-commerce retail sales reached 260 million yuan this July, a year-on-year increase of 10.8 percent, the first positive growth this year.