Chongqing- The total value of foreign trade in Chongqing reached a new high in 2020 and the foreign trade of Chongqing has kept growing in double figures for three consecutive years, according to a press conference held on January 19.

The total value of foreign trade in Chongqing reached a new high in 2020, according to a press conference held on January 19. (iChongqing/ Vivian Yan)

Specifically, the value of foreign trade in Chongqing amounted to 651.34 billion yuan (about 100.83 billion U.S. dollars) in 2020, which increased by 12.5% compared with that of 2019, said Liu Haoyu, Deputy Commissioner of Chongqing Customs.

As the largest trading partner of Chongqing, the import and export of the city, with major trading partners such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), increased in 2020. The foreign trade with ASEAN amounted to 112.17 billion yuan (about 17.36 billion U.S. dollars) in 2020, and the first three trade companions were Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, respectively. Meanwhile, the foreign trade with Belt and Road countries amounted to 175.21 billion yuan (about 27.12 billion U.S. dollars), increasing by 9.8%.

The foreign trade with countries of Belt and Road amounted to approximately 27.12 billion U.S. Dollars. (Picture provided by Chongqing Customs)

According to the latest statistics released by Chongqing Customs, in 2020, the largest commodity imported by Chongqing from ASEAN was integrated circuits, with a value of 43.9 billion yuan (6.80 billion U.S. Dollars), an increase of 8.5%. In the same period, laptops and motorcycles made in Chongqing were the goods most exported to ASEAN, with a number of 3.786 million and 659 thousand, respectively.

In 2020, Chongqing's largest commodity from ASEAN was integrated circuits, with a value of approximately 6.80 billion U.S. Dollars. (Picture provided by Chongqing Customs)

As an important global smart terminal production base, the import and export of Chongqing electronic information industry in 2020 amounted to 466.8 billion yuan (about 72.26 U.S. dollars), among which the number of exported laptops was 65.72 million, ranking first nationwide in both quantity and value.

The electronic information industry has made outstanding contributions to the growth of imports and exports. In 2020, Chongqing's electronic information industry's import and export value was 466.8 billion yuan (about 72.26 U.S. dollars), with an increase 16.3%, accounting for 71.7% of Chongqing's total foreign trade value in the same period.

Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, the “stay-home economy” has driven the increase in demand for electronic products such as computers and mobile phones. In 2020, Chongqing exported 65.72 million notebook computers, with an export value of 172.6 billion yuan (about 26.72 billion U.S. dollars). Both the export volume and value ranked first in China, accounting for 28.2% and 36.3% of the domestic notebook computer export volume and value in the same period.

Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, the “stay-home economy” has driven the increase in demand for electronic products such as computers and mobile phones. (Picture provided by Chongqing Customs)

Starting from May 2020, Chongqing’s mobile phone exports have been in an upward trend. In June, the export of Chongqing’s mobile phone surged nearly 30 times. The export of mobile phones ranked second in China in 2020, accounting for 13.2% of the total domestic mobile phone exports in the same period, and thus it becomes the new growth point of the electronic information industry.

(Fan Xingyan, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)