The 4th China-CEEC Expo. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

In the first half of 2025, trade between Ningbo and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) reached 30.67 billion yuan ($4.27 billion), up 13.7 percent year-on-year, according to Ningbo Customs.

Exports totaled 25.25 billion yuan, surging 20.1 percent, while imports came in at 5.42 billion yuan. This growth reinforces Ningbo's role as a key gateway for China-CEEC cooperation.

Seven CEEC countries — Poland, Slovakia, Greece, Czechia, Romania, Hungary, and Slovenia — accounted for nearly 90 percent of Ningbo's trade with the region.

Mechanical and electrical exports, including home appliances, electrical components, and auto parts, significantly boosted trade, contributing 12.6 percentage points to overall growth.

Minth Group, a Ningbo-based auto parts firm, exported 250 million yuan to CEEC markets, marking a 3.8-fold increase. Its strategy of exporting Chinese tech to Serbia for localized production helps optimize costs and meet custom demands swiftly. "CEEC is our global springboard," said Yu Ke, the company's customs manager .

On the import side, CEEC products like Polish dairy products, Hungarian wine, and Serbian farming goods are gaining traction in China, alongside high-value imports like automobiles and electrical equipment.

To facilitate smooth trade, Ningbo Customs launched an online portal for querying approved CEEC agro-food products and continues to publish European Union export regulations through the China-CEEC Customs Information Center.