(Yicai) Dec. 19 -- Many of China’s central and western provinces have reported that trade between January and November exceeded the total for last year, mainly thanks to increased exports of new energy vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar products.

Six of Chinese central and western provinces saw their trade in goods jump between 13.5 percent and 19.3 percent in the 11 months ended Nov. 30 from a year earlier, outpacing the national growth rate of 3.6 percent.

Anhui’s trade soared 15.3 percent to CNY901.6 billion (USD128 billion), exceeding last year’s total of CNY864.9 billion, according to local customs data released on Dec. 17. Exports surged 15.9 percent to CNY605.3 billion, while imports climbed 14 percent to CNY296.3 billion. 

Anhui's exports of NEVs, lithium-ion battery, and photovoltaic products skyrocketed 88 percent to CNY85.3 billion (USD12.1 billion), ranking sixth in China. 

Northwestern Qinghai reported that trade soared 43 percent in the year through October from a year ago, putting it first in China. Strong new energy product exports boosted its trade figures, its customs bureau announced yesterday. 

Qinghai logged a 6.4 times increase in exports of new energy products to CNY2.7 billion (USD38.5 million), making up 51 percent of the province’s total exports and contributing over half of its growth in trade. Shipments of lithium-ion batteries surged 7.3 times to CNY2.5 billion and those of photovoltaic products jumped 1.7 times to CNY170 million (USD24.1 million).

Electronic information manufacturers, represented by Apple assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, relocated on a large scale to western China around 2010. In addition, foreign-invested companies became the main trade drivers in central and western regions, while the contribution of private firms has also increased more recently.

The number of foreign trade companies in Henan province reached 14,400 as of Nov. 30, with 1,031 reporting imports and exports exceeding CNY50 million in the first 11 months. Trading by private firms reached CNY559.4 billion, accounting for 67 percent of the province's total, while that of foreign companies topped CNY231.4 billion.

Editor: Martin Kadiev