The annual value of the maritime supplies for foreign vessels in the city of Zhoushan in East China's Zhejiang province, hit $2.2 billion in 2019, according to local authorities.

Bunker fuel sales contributed $1.7 billion to the annual value, while the remaining $500 million was brought in through sales of other kinds of maritime supplies, including food and ship's components.

Officials said that since last year, the city has been striving to optimize its system for providing international maritime services and attract more foreign vessels to buy these services at the Zhoushan International Maritime Services Base.

Last year the Zhoushan municipal government implemented a new policy to turn itself into the first city in China to allow foreign vessels to receive maritime services, provided by local businesses at anchorage, under its jurisdiction.

The city also established an online platform for customs services and started to provide comprehensive maritime services at its anchorage berths last year.

Zhoushan is located at the intersection of China's eastern coastline and the major waterway of Yangtze River. Of the seven international main shipping routes passing through China, six pass through the city's sea area.　

"Moving forward, we will continue to improve the system for international maritime services," said Shen Yibin, deputy director of the construction headquarters of the city's international maritime services base.