Containers are unloaded at Qingdao Port in Shandong province. [Photo by Yu Fangping/For China Daily]

East China's Shandong province saw robust foreign trade growth in the first half of this year, according to local customs authorities.

Shandong's imports and exports volume rose by 17 percent year-on-year to 1.57 trillion yuan ($232.83 billion) from January to June.

The province's exports climbed 25.4 percent to 944.96 billion yuan, while imports rose 6.3 percent to 628.53 billion yuan.

In June alone, Shandong's foreign trade jumped 16.1 percent year-on-year to 304.9 billion yuan.

In the first half of this year, general trade imports and exports in Shandong reached 1.04 trillion yuan, up 15.3 percent year-on-year, accounting for 66.3 percent of the province's total foreign trade volume.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United States, the European Union, South Korea, Japan and Russia were the province's top six trade partners.

Trade between Shandong and ASEAN members reached 286.84 billion yuan, representing an increase of 47.9 percent year-on-year.

Shandong's imports and exports to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative reached 578.37 billion yuan, up 35.7 percent, and accounted for 36.8 percent of the total.

Its trade with other RCEP members reached 587.47 billion yuan, up 22.9 percent, and accounted for 37.3 percent of the total.