Containers at Taicang Port wait to be transported. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In the first quarter of 2022, Taicang's imports and exports reached 27.18 billion yuan ($4.18 billion), an increase of 6.7 percent year-on-year, Taicang Customs recently announced.

The exports were valued at 12.81 billion yuan, up 14 percent year-on-year. The imports and exports of private companies were valued at 9.74 billion yuan, up 14.8 percent year-on-year.

The imports and exports of foreign-invested companies were valued 17.08 billion yuan, up 1.4 percent year-on-year.

Trade with the EU reached 6.64 billion yuan, an increase of 15.7 percent. Trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative reached 9.99 billion yuan, an increase of 10.1 percent.

Trade with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership members amounted to 11.48 billion yuan, an increase of 0.7 percent.

The RCEP agreement covers the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its five free trade agreement partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand.