Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province [Photo/VCG]

Jinan's imports and exports increased by 32.1 percent in the first nine months of this year, local authorities reported on Oct 21.

The city's foreign trade volume totaled 139.03 billion yuan ($21.78 billion) in the first three quarters, ranking sixth in Shandong province and accounting for 6.6 percent of the provincial total.

During the period, the city's imports reached 56.86 billion yuan, up 16.3 percent year-on-year, while its exports hit 82.17 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 45.7 percent.

Private enterprises were the main forces in driving the city's imports and exports from January to September. Imports and exports of private enterprises during the period were valued at 86.16 billion yuan, up 28.8 percent year-on-year and accounting for 62 percent of the city's total.

Imports and exports of State-owned enterprises reached 24.15 billion yuan, up 15.8 percent year-on-year and accounting for 17.4 percent of the city's total. Import and export of foreign-invested enterprises totaled 28.48 billion yuan, up 63.6 percent and accounting for 20.5 percent of the city's total.

In the first three quarters, Jinan's imports and exports to ASEAN countries reached 24.77 billion yuan, up 14.2 percent year-on-year. Imports and exports to the European Union (excluding the UK) reached 14.7 billion yuan, up 8.5 percent.

The city's foreign trade to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative increased by 27.4 percent to 46.41 billion yuan, accounting for 33.4 percent of the city's total.