Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Chen Qiangwei) news: According to a press conference held by Urumqi Customs, in the first quarter of 2024, the total import and export value of Xinjiang's foreign trade was 93.63 billion yuan(about 12.93 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 42.7 percent, 37.7 percentage points higher than the national growth rate, ranking second in China. As of March, the total import and export value of Xinjiang's foreign trade has maintained positive growth for 29 consecutive months.

Photo taken on March 11, 2024 shows customs officers of Alataw Pass supervise the China-Europe freight trains. (Photo by Shi Yuhan)

In the first quarter of 2024, Kashi Prefecture, Urumqi City, and Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture ranked among the top three provinces and cities in Xinjiang in terms of import and export value, accounting for 27 percent, 18.8 percent, and 15.8 percent of Xinjiang's total import and export value during the same period.

In the first quarter of 2024, China’s Xinjiang had trade relations with 193 countries and regions around the world. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan continued to maintain their position as major trading partners of Xinjiang, with import and export values increasing by 58.8 percent and 1.9 percent year-on-year, accounting for 40.5 percent and 22 percent of Xinjiang's total import and export value during the same period, respectively.

The import and export value between Xinjiang and BRI participating countries increased by 41.7 percent year-on-year, accounting for 91.9 percent of the total import and export value of Xinjiang in the same period; The import and export value between Xinjiang and the five Central Asian countries increased by 26.4 percent year-on-year, accounting for 68.6 percent of the total import and export value of Xinjiang during the same period; The import and export value between Xinjiang and other member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) increased by 196.5 percent year-on-year, accounting for 8.8 percent of the total import and export value of Xinjiang during the same period.

In the first quarter of 2024, the import and export value of Xinjiang through small-scale border trade increased by 28 percent year-on-year, accounting for 53.4 percent of the total import and export value of Xinjiang during the same period, a decrease of 6.2 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023. The import and export value of Xinjiang through general trade increased by 96.9 percent year-on-year, accounting for 35 percent of the total import and export value of Xinjiang during the same period, an increase of 9.6 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023, further optimizing the overall foreign trade structure of Xinjiang.

Private enterprises fully leverage their flexibility and market adaptability advantages to maintain their dominant position in Xinjiang's foreign trade. In the first quarter of 2024, the import and export value of private enterprises increased by 39.4 percent year-on-year, accounting for 93.2 percent of the total import and export value of Xinjiang during the same period. The development trend of foreign trade in state-owned enterprises has significantly improved, with a year-on-year increase of 128.6 percent in import and export value. The total import and export value of Kashi, Alashankou, Urumqi and Horgos comprehensive bonded zones increased by 30.5 percent year-on-year, accounting for 39.4 percent of the total import and export value of Xinjiang in the same period.

The main import and export commodities are showing a growth trend. In the first quarter, the export of mechanical and electrical products from Xinjiang increased by 45.8 percent year-on-year. Among them, the export of automotive spare parts, cars (including automotive chassis), lighting fixtures and their components increased by 18.5 percent, 37.9 percent, and 76.4 percent year-on-year, respectively. The total export of "new three" products, including EVs and lithium batteries, increased by 151.9 percent year-on-year. In the first quarter, Xinjiang's imports of unwrought copper and copper materials increased by 169 percent year-on-year, while imports of agricultural products increased by 36.3 percent year-on-year.

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