Jinhua in Zhejiang province achieved foreign trade worth 508.68 billion yuan ($71.02 billion) in the first half of this year, marking a notable increase of 20.1 percent year-on-year, according to Jinhua Customs on July 23.

Exports grew by 20.6 percent, reaching 453.37 billion yuan, while imports rose by 16.1 percent to 55.31 billion yuan. The city contributed 50.2 percent to the province's total import-export expansion during this period, ranking highest province-wide.

The steady growth was driven by diversified market strategies. Trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative made up 64.1 percent of Jinhua's total foreign trade volume from January to June, increasing by 24.4 percent to 326.29 billion yuan. Imports and exports with ASEAN, Latin America, and Africa rose by 38.3 percent, 15.0 percent, and 22.6 percent, respectively.

High-value-added products are reshaping export portfolios as green industries thrive globally. In June, Huachu New Energy Company, based in Pujiang county, exported 170 home-use lithium battery products valued at 820,000 yuan, marking Pujiang's first export of lithium battery products.

In the first half of the year, Jinhua Customs completed 659 batches of identification for the packaging used in the dangerous goods transportation of exported lithium battery products, representing a year-on-year increase of 95.5 percent.

Additionally, Jinhua organized 64 groups and 2,382 enterprises to explore overseas markets in the first six months.

At the International Industrial Week Indonesia held in June, Zhejiang Selehe Agriculture Equipment Co attracted buyers with its agricultural machinery. "We made 150 business contacts at the expo and secured intended orders worth 150 million yuan," said Lyu Siqi, the company's foreign trade manager, expressing confidence in the third-quarter foreign trade market.