The total value of Zhanjiang's exports and imports in the first quarter of this year reached 9.51 billion yuan ($1.34 billion), up 20.2 percent year-on-year, ranking first in Guangdong province.

Several measures have been carried out by Zhanjiang Customs, including declaration in advance for raw materials urgently needed by enterprises, to reduce the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic on foreign trade.

The customs also extended import duties for seven enterprises, and reduced enterprises' fees charged at ports by 896,800 yuan.

Zhanjiang has also been helping its foreign trade enterprises resume work and production. To date, 99 percent of key foreign trade enterprises in Zhanjiang have reopened, including Baosteel Zhanjiang Iron and Steel Co, Zhanjiang Port Group, and Zhanjiang Guolian Aquatics Products Co Ltd.

Actions have been made to promote foreign trade enterprises in Zhanjiang to expand the independent import and export share. By late March, the share of imported iron ore in Zhanjiang increased to 74.2 percent from 38.7 percent of the same period last year.

The city also launched supportive policies for the import of aquatic products and frozen meat, which saw a growth rate of 50.6 percent in the first quarter of this year and drove the growth of Zhanjiang's import volume by 3.7 percentage points.