Containers stockpiled in a port in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/hz66.com]

Huzhou's foreign trade has gotten off to a good start this year as its exports grew at the fastest pace in Zhejiang province in the first two months of this year.

The city's imports and exports were valued at 19.31 billion yuan ($2.97 billion) from January to February, an increase of 65.5 percent year-on-year, second fastest in the province. 

Specifically, its export volume stood at 17.83 billion yuan over the two-month period, up 77 percent year-on-year, 26.9 percent higher than the provincial average, ranking first in Zhejiang, official data from Huzhou Customs shows.

Exports from Huzhou were primarily mechanical and electrical products, high-tech products, home furnishing products, as well as chemical products.

The city's export of mechanical and electrical products and high-tech products reached 7.26 billion yuan over the two-month period, up 100.6 percent year-on-year, making it the highest growth in the province.

Efforts from local authorities to relieve the burden on enterprises caused by the shortage of containers due to the COVID-19 epidemic contributed partly to the robust growth momentum.

The lack of containers comes along with the rebounding of orders, which has increased logistics costs on businesses and raised the risk of defaulting as a consequence of failure to deliver goods in time, according to a head official from the Huzhou municipal bureau of commerce.

To solve the problem, the local government has strengthened coordination with international shipping companies and ensured the exports of local companies on a priority list.