The foreign trade of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region reached 54.6 billion yuan ($8.19 billion) in the first five months of 2022, representing an increase of 12.6 percent compared with the previous year, according to statistics from Hohhot Customs.

The region's exports came in at 24.01 billion yuan during the period, seeing an increase of 31.3 percent year-on-year, while its imports hit 30.59 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.3 percent.

General trade accounted for the highest portion of Inner Mongolia's foreign trade value at 69.9 percent.

The general trade imports and exports of Inner Mongolia were valued at 38.14 billion yuan, an increase of 15.6 percent.

Private enterprises led Inner Mongolia's foreign trade. The value of imports and exports of private enterprises reached 36.63 billion yuan, an increase of 18.8 percent and accounting for 67.1 percent of the autonomous region's total foreign trade.

Additionally, the city of Bayannuur saw the highest trade among cities and leagues in Inner Mongolia with a value of 12.06 billion yuan. It was followed by the city of Baotou at 9.19 billion yuan, Hohhot at 8.19 billion yuan and Ordos at 6.2 billion yuan.

Inner Mongolia's imports and exports to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), ASEAN, and the European Union saw significant growth, valued at 31.14 billion yuan, 15.49 billion yuan, 6.15 billion yuan and 3.78 billion yuan, up 11.8 percent, 11 percent, 41.3 percent and 58 percent, respectively.