Zhanjiang foreign trade hits 12.9b yuan in first five months

The total value of Zhanjiang's foreign trade reached 12.9 billion yuan ($2 billion) in the first five months of 2018, according to the latest figures from Zhanjiang Customs. 

During this period, the import volume increased by 12.5 percent to 5.9 billion yuan due to the city's growing demand for coal, agricultural products and pulp. However, iron ore remained the most popular imported product in Zhanjiang.

The export value was recorded at 6.96 billion yuan, with the major export markets being the United States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the European Union (EU). From January to May, Zhanjiang saw a sharp increase in the export of steel products and paper.