Guangdong sets monthly trade record in August

Guangdong's foreign trade volume reached 747.94 billion yuan ($116.87 billion) in August, up year-on-year by 14.6 percent and setting a record high for a single month, a statement released by Guangdong Customs said on Thursday.

The southern province's imports in August grew by 22.8 percent year-on-year to 286.54 billion yuan, while it sold products valued at 461.4 billion yuan to the rest of the world, up year-on-year by 10 percent, the statement said.

The good performance in August helped Guangdong, the country's biggest foreign trader and a major production base, reach a total volume of 5.24 trillion yuan in the first eight months of the year, up year-on-year by 19.6 percent — 21.1 percent of national trade.

Guangdong exported 3.18 trillion yuan worth of products abroad while purchasing foreign goods valued at 2.06 billion yuan between January and August, up respectively by 19.1 percent and 20.5 percent year-on-year.

The province's trade with major partners witnessed double-digit growth in first eight months. Its export and import volume with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, its biggest trade partner this year, hit 799.52 billion yuan, up 20.2 percent year-on-year.

Trade with Taiwan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the United States and European Union reached 409.98 billion yuan, 702.39 billion yuan, 600.48 billion yuan, 584.28 billion yuan in the first eight months, up year-on-year 21.3 percent, 18.4 percent, 15 percent and 21.2 percent, respectively.