Containers stockpiled at a port in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn] 

The value of imports and exports at ports in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province hit 1.76 trillion yuan($270.77 billion) from January to August, up 34.8 percent year-on-year, according to the latest statistics from Ningbo Customs.

Specifically, exports via the city's ports during the eight-month period were valued at 1.28 trillion yuan, an uptick of 38 percent year-on-year, while the value of imports amounted to 475.81 billion yuan, an increase of 19.4 percent.

In August alone, the foreign trade volume at Ningbo ports grew at a pace of 19.4 percent to 216.4 billion yuan.

The European Union, the United States, and ASEAN, were these ports' top three trading partners. Exports to and imports from these economies via Ningbo ports in the first eight months of this year hit 332.5 billion yuan, 306.45 billion yuan, and 181.82 billion yuan respectively, up 44.8 percent, 33.5 percent and 38.9 percent, and accounting for 46.6 percent of the total handled by the city.

In addition, foreign trade with countries involved in Belt and Road Initiative and other RCEP member states at Ningbo ports were valued at 593.26 billion yuan and 351.07 billion yuan, up 40.7 percent and 27.8 percent respectively.

Private enterprises again took up the lion's share of the foreign trade growth over the eight-month period. From January to August, imports and exports of private enterprises handled at Ningbo ports expanded 34.6 percent year-on-year 1.23 trillion yuan, accounting for 69.9 percent of the total.

Trade volume of companies from outside Ningbo hit 1.15 trillion yuan at the city's ports, accounting for 65.6 percent of the total.

Stable growth was seen in the exports of mechanical and electrical products, which registered an increase of 33.2 percent to 643.4 billion yuan in the first eight months of this year.

Crude oil was still the largest import with a value of 153.48 billion yuan during the period, via the city's ports.