From January to February 2023, foreign trade in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region continued to grow significantly, with the total value of imports and exports reaching 29.44 billion yuan ($2.24 billion), a year-on-year increase of 53.8 percent.

Exports totaled 11.06 billion yuan, an increase of 36 percent compared with the same period last year, while the import value came in at 18.37 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 66.9 percent and ranking first in the country in terms of growth rate.

According to statistics from Hohhot Customs, the imports and exports of Bayannuur city hit 6.58 billion yuan, an increase of 89 percent, leading the leagues and cities in the region in foreign trade value.

It was followed by Manzhouli city, which had an import and export value of 4.6 billion yuan, an increase of 196.3 percent.

During this period, the export of electromechanical products and steel products in the whole region increased substantially, and the coal imports doubled.

The region's exports of mechanical and electrical products, agricultural products, steel products, medical materials and pharmaceuticals were 4.05 billion yuan, 1.46 billion yuan, 970 million yuan and 320 million yuan, respectively, increases of 173.6 percent, 13.2 percent, 88.3 percent and 33.9 percent.

The main commodities imported were coal, metal ore and ore, consumer goods and crude oil. The import value of coal, metal ore and ore were 6.56 billion yuan and 5.94 billion yuan, respectively, increases of 448.2 percent and 36.6 percent.