A China-Europe freight train. [Photo/Gong Xian Ming]

In the first half of 2024, Jinhua's foreign trade soared to 423.6 billion yuan ($58.42 billion), a 14.7-percent increase year-on-year, with exports hitting 376 billion yuan, up 18.8 percent.

Jinhua's contribution to Zhejiang's import and export growth rates was the highest in the province, at 29.5 percent and 39.6 percent, respectively.

Jinhua's efforts to consolidate traditional markets and explore new ones have yielded significant results. Trade with Latin America, Africa, and the United States grew by 24.2 percent, 11.8 percent, and 28.6 percent, respectively, while trade with ASEAN, India, and Mexico rose by 27.7 percent, 20.9 percent and 28.8 percent. Additionally, trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative reached 245.98 billion yuan, up 16.3 percent.

Exports of mechanical and electrical products grew by 14.9 percent, while exports of labor-intensive products increased by 25.3 percent.

This year, multiple sports events have created new opportunities for Yiwu's market procurement trade. Market procurement exports remain a key driver of Jinhua's export growth, with general trade imports and exports reaching 163.92 billion yuan, up 6.3 percent, and market procurement exports totaling 232.87 billion yuan, up 28.7 percent.