OnApril 15, Wuhan Customs released Hubei's foreign trade figures in the firstquarter of 2019. In the first quarter, Hubei registered total imports andexports of 78.84 billion yuan, up 16.2 percent from last year (same below),exports of 51.17 billion yuan, up 17.8 percent, imports of 27.67 billion yuan,up 13.5 percent and a trade surplus of 23.5 billion yuan, up 23.2 percent. In thefirst quarter, Wuhan's total import and export growth, export growth and importgrowth were 12.5 percent, 11.1 percent and 13.2 percent above China's averagelevel.

Thanksto substantial import and export growth in March, Hubei's foreign trade sped upin the first quarter. In March, Hubei registered total imports and exports of15.62 billion yuan, up 22.8 percent, exports of 9.95 billion yuan, up 35.9percent and imports of 5.67 billion yuan, up 5 percent.

Interms of export, Hubei registered high-tech product exports of 18.22 billionyuan and labor-intensive product exports of 7.62 billion yuan, accounting for35.6 percent and 14.9 percent of Hubei's total exports. According to theanalysis of Wuhan Customs, traditional labor-intensive industries created a lotof jobs. Labor-intensive product exports in Xiaogan, Jingzhou, Shiyan, Jingzhou and other cities grew by more than 50percent to boost employment.

Interms of import, Hubei registered mechanical and electrical product imports of16.38 billion yuan, accounting for 59.2 percent of Hubei's total imports. Hubeihas sped up the construction of strategic emerging industries focusing on "chip,display, intelligent terminal and internet communication", and a number ofmajor projects such as YMTC, CSOT and BOE have entered a period of intensiveequipment purchase, said analysts, adding that these will drive the overall growthof Hubei's imports.

Residents'needs for consumption upgrading soared. In the first quarter, Hubei's meatimports, aquatic and marine product imports, dairy product imports, bag &suitcase imports and cosmetic imports grew by 900 percent, 83.9 percent, 100percent, 29.2 percent and 11.7 percent respectively, showing the effect of thecountry's frequent slashes of consumer goods import tariffs.

China(Hubei) Pilot Free Trade Zone became a new highland for foreign trade. In thefirst quarter, it registered total imports and exports of 18.77 billion yuan,up 22.9 percent, accounting for 23.8 percent of Hubei's total imports andexports. The total imports and exports of Wuhan Area, Yichang Area andXiangyang Area grew by 19.4 percent, 260 percent and 43.7 percent respectively.

Wuhanregistered total imports and exports of 46.81 billion yuan, up 15.5 percent,accounting for 59.4 percent of Hubei's total imports and exports. The importand export growth of Jingzhou,Jingmen, Xiaogan, Qianjiang, Shiyan, Huanggang, Xianning and Tianmen exceededHubei's average level. Qianjiang led the province with a growth rate of 180percent.