Zhoushan's imports and exports surge 55.3 percent year-on-year to 83.42 billion yuan ($12.09 billion) in the first half of this year. [Photo/WeChat account: china-zjftz]

Zhoushan's imports and exports surged 55.3 percent year-on-year to 83.42 billion yuan ($12.09 billion) in the first half of this year.

The growth rate was the highest in Zhejiang during the six-month period.

Exports stood at 29.22 billion yuan, representing a yearly uptick of 45.7 percent, also the fastest in Zhejiang. The total value of exports from the city made up 5 percent of all exports from the province.

Meanwhile, imports grew by 61.1 percent, the second fastest in the province, to 54.2 billion yuan.

Foreign trade in the Zhejiang FTZ was valued at 61.791 billion yuan, a jump of 116.2 percent year-on-year.

Oil products and ship maintenance emerged as two of the city's major exports, contributing much to its robust export growth.

Exports of oil products were expected to exceed a value of 12 billion yuan from January to June, 80 percent more than the same period last year, while ship maintenance exports were valued at 5 billion yuan, a 50 percent year-on-year increase.

During this same period, Zhoushan also exported 1.7 billion yuan in desulfurization equipment, more than 11 times last year's amount. 

The actual utilization of foreign capital in the city reached $263 million, accounting for 65.8 percent of the annual target. Outbound investment over the same period stood at $75 million, a new record for the city.