The value of Maoming's imports and exports in the first half of the year hit 7.4 billion yuan ($1.03 billion), with exports alone worth 4.63 billion yuan, up 6.2 percent year-on-year.

In the six months, private enterprises in Maoming were the biggest force in foreign trade, with their imports and exports coming in at 5.48 billion yuan.

That represented an increase of 12.9 percent on the previous corresponding period and accounted for 74 percent of the total imports and exports of Maoming.

In the first half of the year, Maoming Customs issued 473 preferential certificates of origin for various RCEP regional trading bloc member countries, with a total value of about 170 million yuan.

Staff workers of Maoming Customs sample crude oil from a tanker at Tianyuan Pier. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]

During the period, Maoming Customs held policy briefing sessions on RCEP for enterprises, helping key industries and specialty products in the city to target reduced tariffs.

Maoming Customs is continuously optimizing its port business environment to promote fast customs clearances for key commodities, such as key equipment, imports and exports of grain and energy. Moreover, it has built smart ports and is promoting electronic customs clearances.

In the first half of the year, Maoming's exports of labor-intensive products and mechanical and electrical products increased by 9.8 percent and 54.6 percent respectively, while imports of liquefied propane and metal ore increased by 15.8 percent and 11.2 percent respectively.