Shanghai saw its foreign trade grow 13.5 percent year-on-year to 1.39 trillion yuan ($196.73 billion) in the first four months of this year, customs data showed. The growth rate was 7.6 percentage points higher than the national level.

During the period, exports from Shanghai increased by 16.3 percent to 558.65 billion yuan, while imports rose by 11.6 percent to 834.57 billion yuan.

In April alone, the city's foreign trade volume reached 346.63 billion yuan, returning to the same level as the same period in 2021.

Foreign-invested enterprises remained the main contributors to Shanghai's foreign trade, with their import and export value reaching 811.18 billion yuan and accounting for 58.2 percent of the city's total in the first four months.

Bonded logistics import and export, which reflects Shanghai's role as a trade hub, registered the fastest growth rate among all trade modes and surged 29.2 percent year-on-year to 365.38 billion yuan, accounting for 26.2 percent of the city's total foreign trade volume.

Shanghai also expanded its trade with other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Its import and export with other RCEP members and BRI countries grew by 10.6 percent and 8.3 percent year-on-year respectively.

Shanghai also saw positive growth in its trade with major trading partners such as the European Union, ASEAN, the United States, and Japan in the first four months.