On August 14, the person in charge of the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce introduced my country’s foreign trade operations from January to July 2018.
According to customs statistics, my country’s total import and export volume from January to July was 16.72 trillion yuan, an increase of 8.6% year-on-year (the same below); of which exports were 8.89 trillion yuan, an increase of 5%; imports were 7.83 trillion yuan, an increase of 12.9% ; The trade surplus was 1.07 trillion yuan, narrowed by 30.6%. In July, my country’s total import and export volume was 2.60 trillion yuan, an increase of 12.5%; of which exports were 1.39 trillion yuan, an increase of 6%; imports were 1.21 trillion yuan, an increase of 20.9%; the trade surplus was 176.96 billion yuan, narrowing by 42.6%. Since the beginning of this year, import and export have achieved rapid growth, the structure has continued to be optimized, the transformation of power has accelerated, quality and efficiency have been further improved, and the momentum of stable and positive foreign trade development has been further consolidated. The person in charge of the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce pointed out that January to July 2018 mainly presented the following highlights:
First, the scale of import and export reached a record high. From January to July, my country’s import and export scale reached 16.72 trillion yuan (2.61 trillion U.S. dollars), a record high in the same period. From an international comparison, according to the latest import and export data of 30 major economies in the first half of the year released by the World Trade Organization, my country’s import and export growth rate is 3.8 percentage points higher than the average growth rate of major economies.
Second, the structure is further optimized. The international market is more diversified. While consolidating traditional markets such as the United States, Europe, and Japan, imports and exports to emerging markets have achieved rapid growth. The growth rate of my country’s trade with BRICS countries and countries along the “Belt and Road” has reached 12.4 respectively. % and 11.3%. The domestic regional layout is more balanced. The import and export of the central and western regions increased by 15.0%, 6.4 percentage points higher than the overall growth rate, and the proportion increased by 0.9 percentage points to 15.6%. The commodity structure was further optimized. The export of mechanical and electrical products increased by 6.8%, and their proportion increased by 1.0 percentage points to 58.3%. Among them, the export of automobiles, mobile phones, computers and other products increased by 17.9%, 8.9% and 5.2% respectively. All operating entities develop together. Private enterprises’ exports increased by 7.6%, and their proportion increased by 1.2 percentage points to 47.7%, continuing to maintain their status as the largest operating entity in exports. Trade methods were further optimized, with general trade import and export increasing by 12.7%, and its proportion increased by 2.1 percentage points to 58.9%.
Third, the transformation of power is accelerating. The business environment for the development of new foreign trade formats continues to improve. Cross-border e-commerce and market procurement trade have continued to maintain rapid growth this year on the basis of two consecutive years of rapid growth, becoming a new highlight in foreign trade growth. The independent innovation and brand building capabilities of foreign trade enterprises are constantly increasing, and the endogenous driving force for foreign trade development is increasing day by day.
Fourth, quality and efficiency will be further improved. The quality, grade and added value of export commodities have improved. The export added value of mechanical and electrical products such as computers and electric motors has further increased from January to July, and the export unit price increased by 11.7% and 6.8% respectively. Its contribution to national economic and social development has increased. In the first half of the year, my country’s import tax revenue was 997.4 billion yuan, an increase of 8.9%, accounting for 10.9% of my country’s total tax revenue.
Since the beginning of this year, the world economy and trade have picked up, and the domestic economy has continued to consolidate its stable and positive momentum, providing strong support for the development of my country’s foreign trade. The Ministry of Commerce, together with various departments and localities, resolutely implements the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, pays close attention to policy implementation, strives to reduce the burden on enterprises, further optimizes the business environment, and achieves positive results; a large number of foreign trade companies work from the supply side and actively cultivate With new advantages in foreign trade competition centered on technology, brand, quality, service and standards, product added value and brand influence have been further improved; in November this year, we will also hold the first China International Import Expo and actively open the market to the world. my country’s foreign trade development provides more favorable conditions.
In the next step, we will take the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, firmly establish and implement the new development concept, follow the tasks and requirements put forward in the “Government Work Report”, and adhere to the general tone of work of seeking progress while maintaining stability. Deepen the supply-side structural reform of foreign trade; vigorously cultivate new trade formats, promote the innovative development of processing trade, implement a more proactive import policy, go all out to prepare for the first China International Import Expo, further improve the level of trade facilitation, and promote the high-quality development of foreign trade , promote the construction of a strong trade country, and make greater contributions to the national economy and social development. (Title: Ministry of Commerce: my country’s foreign trade operations from January to July 2018)
