Changsha's total import and export value rose 5.2% year-on-year to 133.14 billion yuan in the first five months of this year, according to data released by Xingsha Customs on June 17. ASEAN was Changsha's largest trading partner. The total trade value between Changsha and ASEAN amounted to 30.01 billion yuan, up 9.7% year on year, and accounted for about one-fifth of the city's total foreign trade.

In the first five months, the European Union, Changsha's second largest trading partner, and the United States, its third largest trading partner, both saw a year-on-year decline in trade value. Changsha's trade with South Korea, its fourth largest trading partner, increased by about 30% year-on-year. Meanwhile, imports and exports between Changsha and countries along the Belt and Road amounted to 55.47 billion yuan, up 19.7%. The city's trade with the other 14 members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Africa respectively grew 7.6% and 33.7% to 46.7 billion yuan and 11.37 billion yuan.

Changsha's general trade accounted for more than 80% of the city's overall foreign trade. The imports and exports via bonded logistics totaled 5.75 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 38%. Private enterprises played an active role in foreign trade. The imports and exports of private enterprises in Changsha came in at 112.8 billion yuan and constituted 84.7% of the city's total foreign trade. State-owned enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises also registered growth in foreign trade.

In the first five months, Changsha's exports of mechanical and electrical products accounted for about half of the total export value. Among them, the exports of automobiles were 4.81 billion yuan, doubling year-on-year. Exports of labor-intensive products such as textiles, clothing, shoes and boots have declined.