In 2022, the volume of imports and exports in Tai'an, Shandong province reached 40.59 billion yuan ($5.89 billion), an increase of 39.5 percent compared to that in 2021, and ranked second in the province in terms of growth rate.

During the same period, Tai'an's export volume totaled 35.24 billion yuan, surging 82.4 percent, which topped the province in terms of growth rate.

Tai'an has been beefing up its efforts to boost its foreign trade of traditional pillar industries. In 2022, Tai'an Customs released nine key measures to help boost the textile and apparel industry. As a result, Tai'an's exports of clothing amounted to 2.8 billion yuan, up 112 percent year-on-year, while that of textiles amounted to 2.2 billion yuan, up 12.3 percent.

For example, Daiyin Group, a textile and apparel company located in Tai'an, recorded a combined import and export volume of $320 million in 2022, growing 22.11 percent from the previous year, thanks to help from Tai'an customs. The company has sold its products to over 20 countries and regions including the United States and Europe.

Tai'an Customs also helped exporters reduce clearance time by setting up a green channel for territorial inspections of imports and exports of agricultural and sideline products.

The food company Fenghui Kaitong, which is mainly engaged in vegetable dehydration processing and sales, achieved an export volume of $10.39 million in 2022, thanks to the clearance time reduction.

As opening-up plays a key role in development, Tai'an has been bolstering its efforts to offer the latest information and training on overseas investment in 2022 as a way to make domestic industries more competitive overseas.

An employee works on the production line at a Daiyin Group factory. The group is a texile and apparel company that is located in Tai'an, Shandong province. [Photo/Tai'an Daily]