SHIJIAZHUANG — The foreign trade value of North China's Hebei province reached 313.46 billion yuan (about $46 billion) in the first seven months of this year, up 3.3 percent year-on-year, according to the customs authorities of Shijiazhuang, capital of the province.

Its exports reached 190.22 billion yuan during the period, up 12.3 percent year-on-year, whereas its imports amounted to 123.24 billion yuan, down 8 percent year-on-year.

In the seven months from January to July, Hebei's imports from and exports to countries along the Belt and Road increased by 21.3 percent to 107.3 billion yuan. The province's total trade volume with the ASEAN and the EU totaled 40.1 billion yuan and 34.88 billion yuan respectively, up 25.2 percent and 15.2 percent.

Over this period, Hebei's exports of mechanical and electrical products, and high-tech products, grew rapidly. The province saw a decrease in imports of iron ore, soybeans, and natural gas.