Fujian province on China's eastern coast, which boasts traditional trade ties on the ancient Marine Silk Road, witnessed a strong growth in trade with Belt and Road (B&R) countries in the first half of the year (H1).

The trade volume grew by 13.6% year on year in H1, hitting 220.21 billion yuan (US$32 billion). The amount accounted for 34.6% of the province's total foreign trade, according to Xiamen Customs Sunday.

The main export goods from Fujian are labor-intensive products and mechanical and electrical products. The exports of textiles and garments, furniture, bags, shoes, plastic products and toys hit 51.99 billion yuan in H1, a year-on-year increase of 23.7%.

The exports of mechanical and electrical products soared by 26.8% year on year to reach 46 billion yuan.

The largest component of Fujian's imports was crude oil, reaching 18.07 billion yuan in H1, up 10.4% year on year.

Fujian's trade with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reached 117.6 billion yuan in H1, up 15.1%, accounting for 53.5% of the total trade with B&R countries, according to the customs statistics.