(Yicai) Jan. 18 -- Shanghai was the Chinese city with the most imports and exports last year, according to data released by other cities, while the hi-tech hub of Shenzhen was the country's biggest exporter for the 31st consecutive year.

The value of Shenzhen’s imports and exports climbed 5.9 percent last year from the year before to CNY3.87 trillion (USD540.9 billion), hitting a historic high and ranking second among Chinese cities, according to a press release issued by Shenzhen customs on Jan. 16. And the metropolis’ exports swelled 12.5 percent to CNY2.46 trillion (USD343.6 billion).

Although Shanghai has yet to release its 2023 foreign trade data, this statement proves that Shanghai ranked top in terms of the country’s imports and exports. The value of the city’s foreign trade in the first 11 months last year was CNY3.86 trillion (USD540.9 billion), a gain of 1.2 percent year on year, according to figures from Shanghai customs. Exports climbed 1.7 percent over the period to CNY1.59 trillion while imports edged up 0.8 percent to CNY2.27 trillion.

The top five foreign trade cities in 2022 were Shenzhen, Shanghai, Suzhou, Ningbo and Guangzhou, and this has been the general pattern over the last five years although Shanghai topped the rankings in 2021, according to the General Administration of Customs.

In the first 11 months, Suzhou’s imports and exports amounted to CNY2.24 trillion (USD313.7 billion), but full data for the year is not yet available.

Ningbo and Guangzhou lag further behind. The value of Ningbo’s imports and exports advanced 0.9 percent in 2023 from a year earlier to CNY1.28 trillion. Exports inched up 0.7 percent to CNY828.8 billion (USD115.7 billion) while imports climbed 1.1 percent to CNY449.2 billion.

And Guangzhou logged around CNY981.7 billion (USD137.5 billion) in foreign trade, a dip of 0.3 percent from the year before, according to customs data. But the province has not yet announced data for the full year.

Exports of electric passenger cars, lithium-ion batteries and solar cells are some of the main products being sold overseas. Last year, Shenzhen’s exports of these three items jumped 33.9 percent from a year earlier to CNY88.8 billion (USD12.4 billion). And from January to November, Shanghai’s exports of the trio surged 45.1 percent to CNY159.3 billion, contributing 3.2 percentage points to the growth in exports.

China’s imports and exports in 2023 edged up 0.2 percent year on year to CNY41.7 trillion (USD5.8 billion), according to China customs. Exports climbed 0.6 percent to CNY23.7 trillion, while imports dipped 0.3 percent to CNY17.99 trillion.

Editor: Kim Taylor