Customs reported a significant surge in trade between East China's Shanghai and the small landlocked country of Serbia in southeastern Europe in the first quarter of the year – even including a shipment of imitation crystal products which proved to be something of a hit in the cosmopolitan metropolis.

Q1 imports and exports between Serbia and Shanghai hit 650 million yuan ($89.85 million), representing a whopping 58 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

In April, a shipment of imitation crystal products from Serbia arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The consignment, which included 342 decorative ornaments and 24 sets of tableware valued at 490,500 yuan, was in high demand due to its urgency, particularly the customized high-footed tableware cup sets.

To ensure timely delivery, Pudong Airport Customs prioritized handling the cargo at the warehouse. Customs also provided careful instructions to workers to handle the fragile imitation crystal items and tableware with caution during loading, unloading and unpacking.

After confirming the consistency of the goods with the declaration and ensuring no damage, customs officers swiftly cleared the shipment.

The increasing demand for high-quality lifestyle products from Chinese consumers has led to a surge in imports of Serbian imitation crystal glass products.

Tang Di, an official at Pudong Airport Customs, highlighted the growing trend, stating that imports of Serbian imitation crystal craft items and tableware increased by 16.51 percent year-on-year, reaching 8.39 million yuan since the beginning of the year.