The total value of imports and exports in 2019 hit 19.07 billion yuan ($2.75 billion) in Baotou, in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, for year-on-year growth of 13.6 percent, according to a report in the Baotou Evening News. 

The total accounted for 17.4 percent of the autonomous region's total, ranking it second among the leagues and cities in the autonomous region. 

Last year, Baotou's total imports and exports value in general trade came in at 18.13 billion yuan, an increase of 12.3 percent, accounting for 95 percent of the total value of the city's imports and exports. 

Australia was Baotou's largest trade partner in 2019, with the total value of bilateral trade between the two  reaching 6.39 billion yuan. Second was South Korea with a total trade worth 1.55 billion yuan. 

In 2019, the top three import commodities in Baotou were iron ore and its concentrates, mechanical and electrical products, coal and lignite, which combined accounted for 87.2 percent of the value of total imports. 

The top three export products were steel products, rare earth and its products and mechanical and electrical products, which together accounted for 93.6 percent of the total export value.