LANZHOU — Northwest China's Gansu province saw its foreign trade exceed 32.58 billion yuan (about $4.82 billion) in the first half of 2022, a year-on-year increase of 24.6 percent, according to local customs.

During the period, the province's exports rose 49.4 percent year-on-year to 6.16 billion yuan, while imports increased 20 percent to 26.42 billion yuan, data from Lanzhou Customs showed.

The province's foreign trade volumes in May and June were particularly robust, with a year-on-year surge of 89.8 percent and 47.6 percent, respectively.

During this period, the province's trade with countries along the Belt and Road hit 15.4 billion yuan, up 25.2 percent year-on-year, accounting for 47.3 percent of the province's total trade. Its trade with members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership rose 40 percent to 6.42 billion yuan.

Exports of mechanical and electrical products reached 2.89 billion yuan, up 24.9 percent year-on-year. The province's exports of agricultural products increased 38.8 percent, with export volumes of seeds and apple juice surging 53.1 percent and 77.2 percent, respectively.