Rudong county in Nantong, Jiangsu province, saw a 11.4 percent year-on-year increase in foreign trade during the first three months this year, 4.6 percentage points higher than the growth rate of Nantong.

The value of foreign trade totaled 9.59 billion yuan ($1.42 billion) in the first quarter, according to the local customs authority.

During the first three months, the import and export values of agricultural products and high-tech, petrochemicals, mechanical and electrical products as well as textiles in Rudong all experienced steady growth.

The value of trade between Rudong and the economies of the United States, Japan, the European Union and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, accounted for 40.4 percent of the total trade value.

Trade between Rudong and Africa was worth nearly 750 million yuan in the first quarter, up 56.4 percent year-on-year.

During the period, State-owned companies were the major players in the foreign trade, injecting vitality into the county's economy.