Ningbo customs officers supervise a batch of cars exported to CEECs. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Ningbo Customs revealed that in 2024, trade between Ningbo and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) reached a record high. The total import and export volume hit 56.13 billion yuan ($7.7 billion), an 11.2-percent year-on-year increase, marking the ninth consecutive year of positive growth.

Since the establishment of the Ningbo China-CEEC Business Cooperation Demonstration Zone in 2018, trade between the two sides has doubled.

Ningbo's traditional export products, including household appliances, electrical equipment, and automotive parts, gained traction in the CEEC market in 2024, with exports totaling 44.03 billion yuan, an 18.7-percent increase. Automotive exports grew a remarkable 212.9 percent, reaching 290 million yuan in 2024.

In 2024, Ningbo imported goods worth 12.1 billion yuan from CEECs, with Slovakia and Poland as the main sources. Imports from Serbia and Montenegro grew significantly, while new agricultural and food products like Polish flour and Greek saffron entered China through Ningbo for the first time.

2025 marks the 13th year since the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism was implemented. Ningbo Customs has supported trade with the region by providing timely updates and guidelines on various trade policies and agreements.