In the first three quarters of 2023, Zhejiang's trade with BRICS countries reached 699.63 billion yuan ($96.67 billion), marking a 4.8 percent increase from the previous year and accounting for 15.2 percent of China's total BRICS trade, the highest in the country, according to Hangzhou Customs.

Zhejiang's exports to BRICS countries totaled 461.68 billion yuan, up 5 percent, while imports reached 237.95 billion yuan, a 4.4 percent increase. Nearly 50,000 Zhejiang-based companies trade with BRICS nations, making up over 40 percent of the province's total import-export firms.

Leading exports included electromechanical products, which accounted for 49.8 percent of total BRICS-bound exports at 230.04 billion yuan — a 9 percent increase. Automotive exports surged by 85.7 percent with 117,000 vehicles shipped, and home appliances saw an 18.4 percent increase with 250 million units exported. Labor-intensive goods, including furniture, also saw growth, with furniture exports alone rising by 27.5 percent to 6.88 billion yuan.

Imports from BRICS countries provided over 90 percent of Zhejiang's soybeans, 82.5 percent of its poultry, and 61.7 percent of its pork. Specialty items like macadamia nuts, crabs, and pistachios were also popular, with respective import increases of 26.5 percent, 124 percent, and 416.6 percent.

India, Russia, and Brazil served as Zhejiang's main BRICS export markets, collectively accounting for 63.1 percent of total exports to the bloc.