In the first half of this year, Hubei’s foreign trade turnover amounted to 166.66 billion yuan, declining by 1.5 percent year on year. In June, Hubei saw its overall import-export volume expanded by 15.6 percent year on year to reach 36.01 billion yuan, according to statistics released by the Wuhan Customs on July 16.

  Exports dropped by 7.6 percent to 98.27 billion yuan while imports surged 8.8 percent to 68.39 billion yuan in the period, 12.1 percentage points higher than the national average.

  Hubei witnessed its private enterprises play a more prominent role in stabilizing its foreign trade growth from January to June.

  New business forms enjoyed rapid development, with its market procurement exports growing by 7.8 times and its   cross-border e-commerce imports and exports rising by 84.8 percent. The overall import-export volume of the China (Hubei) Pilot Free Trade Zone rose by 4.3 percent, accounting for 26 percent of the province.

  Hubei's exports of epidemic prevention supplies significantly contributed to  growth. And the export value of masks, protective clothing, testing reagents and Chinese medicinal materials were in the front rank among the country.

  Raw materials for high-tech industrial equipment were Hubei's major imports, with mechanical and electrical products accounting for more than 60 percent of the total imports.

  (Source: en.hubei.gov.cn)