(Yicai) May 26 -- China’s international trade rose 2.4 percent to CNY14.14 trillion (USD2 trillion) in the first four months of the year, with central and western provinces notching up some of the country’s most impressive figures.

According to official data, nine of the top 10 provinces by import-export growth were in central and western regions in January to April: Qinghai (70 percent), Gansu (45 percent), Henan (30 percent), Hubei (28 percent), Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (20 percent), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (17 percent), Anhui (14 percent), Sichuan (7.9 percent), Xizang Autonomous Region (7.7 percent), and Shandong (7.6 percent).

The key growth areas were new energy-related products, such as electric vehicles, lithium batteries, solar products, and electromechanical goods, which is partly down to changes in the national industrial structure.

Unlike traditional export-oriented plants that are concentrated in coastal regions, emerging sectors such as new energy have established manufacturing bases in central and western provinces, and these inland regions have created fresh growth momentum in foreign trade.

Additionally, leveraging their geographical proximity to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia, central and western provinces have used their links with countries that have joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Xining customs bureau reported that Qinghai’s explosive foreign trade growth was fueled by surging exports of new energy products. In the four months, the province’s lithium-ion battery exports hit CNY880 million (USD122 million), up 66 times from a year ago, helping to lift the province’s export growth rate by 97 percentage points.

Its exports of polysilicon, a photovoltaic intermediate product, rose 1.7 times to CNY280 million (USD39 million), while polyethylene imports grew 1.8 times to CNY54.5 million (USD7.6 million).

Hefei customs data revealed that Anhui’s electromechanical product exports totaled CNY142.82 billion (USD20 billion) in the first four months, up 19 percent from a year ago and accounting for 72 percent of the province’s total. Exports of autos and car parts, laptops, and home appliances reached CNY28.43 billion (USD4 billion), CNY14.56 billion, and CNY13.53 billion, climbing 23 percent, 29 percent, and 13 percent, respectively.

Zhengzhou customs noted that Henan’s electromechanical exports surged 69 percent from a year earlier to CNY121.68 billion, making up 65 percent of total exports. Mobile phone exports surged 83 percent to CNY64.22 billion, while auto exports grew 44 percent to CNY15.06 billion.

According to Nanning customs, Guangxi's foreign trade reached CNY258.41 billion in the first four months, up 17 percent year on year and accelerating by 0.1 point from the first quarter. Trade with countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations climbed 16 percent to CNY139.63 billion, accounting for 54 percent of the province’s total.

Editor: Tom Litting