In the first four months of this year, the city of Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region achieved 4.90 billion yuan ($735.18 million) in foreign trade value, an increase of 167.6 percent over the same period last year.

The foreign trade growth rate was 160.2 percentage points higher than the regional average, ranking first among cities and leagues across the region.

Exports were valued at 3.67 billion yuan, an increase of 218.5 percent year-on-year, while imports were valued at 1.22 billion yuan, an increase of 80.9 percent year-on-year.

The growth rates of exports and imports were 190.7 and 85.7 percentage points higher than the regional average.

From January to April, the city's foreign trade showed significant advantages in processing trade and diversified trade modes; wholly foreign-owned enterprises showed strong growth; traditional industries developed steadily and emerging industries developed rapidly.

Over the same period, the top three commodities in terms of the total value of key export commodities in Ordos were mechanical and electrical products, ferroalloys, clothing and clothing accessories.

The top three commodities in terms of the total value of imported key commodities were mechanical and electrical products, metal ore and ore sand, and glass and related products.

Elsewhere, imported and exported commodities were still dominated by traditional advantageous industries. The import and export of high-tech products involving electronic technology, computer integrated manufacturing technology and optoelectronic technology reached 2.37 billion yuan.

Since the beginning of this year, the processing trade business of the Ordos Comprehensive Bonded Zone has continued to develop, and wholly foreign-owned enterprises have had a significant impact on the growth of the city's import and export trade.