In the first half of the year, Tai'an's total import and export volume hit 29.22 billion yuan ($4.08 billion), marking an 18 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This growth rate surpassed the provincial average by 11.2 percentage points, ranking Tai'an fourth in the province for growth.

Exports accounted for 27.34 billion yuan, showing a substantial 27.9 percent increase and securing the top export growth rate in the province, surpassing the provincial average by 22 percentage points.

The city's trade primarily focused on general trade, with a total value of 28.46 billion yuan, representing 97.4 percent of the total import and export value. Processing trade reached 430 million yuan, accounting for 1.5 percent of the total.

Driven by private enterprises, the city's import and export activities were led by private businesses, which contributed 27.79 billion yuan, representing 95.1 percent of the total.

Tai'an maintained stable growth in trade with key partners such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union, with imports and exports reaching 7.17 billion yuan and 3.49 billion yuan, respectively, showing increases of 7.9 percent and 26.6 percent. Notably, trade with the United Kingdom and Canada saw rapid growth rates of 100.4 percent and 73.2 percent, respectively.

The city's main exported commodities included electromechanical products, textiles, clothing, and plastic products. Electromechanical products accounted for 11.4 billion yuan in exports, representing 41.7 percent of the total, with notable growth in exports of electrical equipment, household appliances, and lighting fixtures. Textile and clothing exports reached 3.43 billion yuan, while plastic products reached 1.83 billion yuan.