Customs officers inspect a warehouse in Yiwu. [Photo/news.zgyww.cn] 

Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang province recorded 230.98 billion yuan ($34.51 billion) in imports and exports in the first three quarters, growing 5.8 percent over the same period last year, according to the Yiwu Customs on Oct 29.

The city's imports and exports in the first three quarters accounted for 9.5 percent of the provincial total. Specifically, Yiwu's exports were valued at 222.15 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.1 percent, while imports were valued at 8.83 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 25.9 percent.

Yiwu has recorded continuous positive growth in foreign trade since May.

In September, the city's foreign trade volume was 30.83 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.7 percent. Specifically, the exports stood at 29.64 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15 percent, while imports stood at 1.19 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 39.1 percent.

Trade with the US became a main driving force behind Yiwu's growth in foreign trade in the first three quarters, with the trade volume between the two sides being valued at 23.65 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 85.6 percent and accounting for 10.2 percent of the city's total imports and exports over the period.

In the same period, Yiwu's foreign trade volume with Africa and the Middle East, the city's two biggest trade partners of Yiwu, was valued at 48.4 billion yuan and 40.47 billion yuan, accounting for 21 percent and 17.5 percent of Yiwu's total foreign trade, respectively.

The city's foreign trade volume with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative was 99.56 billion yuan, accounting for 43.1 percent of its total trade volume.

Among Yiwu's exports in the first three quarters, mechanical and electrical products took up the largest share, with imports of such products reaching 84.66 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 18.9 percent.