A busy port in Nantong. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

The foreign trade of Nantong, Jiangsu province, reached 73.42 billion yuan ($10.68 billion) in the first two months of 2026, marking the first time this figure has exceeded 70 billion yuan in this period, according to statistics from Nantong Customs.

This performance ranks the city fourth in the province, with a year-on-year growth of 18 percent, accounting for 7.1 percent of the province's total volume.

Exports from Nantong totaled 48.53 billion yuan, up 22 percent, while imports reached 24.89 billion yuan, up 10.8 percent.

The city's trade with the EU and ASEAN experienced significant growth, effectively compensating for reduced trade with the United States. During the first two months, trade with the EU and ASEAN reached 13.48 billion yuan and 12.4 billion yuan, respectively, with growth rates of 66 percent and 67.7 percent.

Nantong's leading industries performed well overall, with shipbuilding and electrical equipment making notable contributions. In the first two months, exports of ships and electrical equipment totaled 7.97 billion yuan and 4.78 billion yuan, respectively, up by 79.7 percent and 47.8 percent.

The global market environment has stabilized and improved. As inflation gradually declines in developed economies in Europe and the US, consumer confidence is steadily recovering, bolstering external demand for Nantong's exports. In the first two months, the average volume of goods exported from Nantong increased by 30.8 percent.