Shanxi's import-export volume reached 52.53 billion yuan ($ 7.86 billion) in the first half of 2017, an increase of 10.4 percent year on year, ranking 24th in China, according to the Taiyuan Customs.

Individually, exports amounted to 31.71 billion yuan, up by 8.6 percent and imports to 20.82 billion yuan, up by 13.3 percent.

The first half of 2017 saw growth in foreign trade of State-owned enterprises, foreign-funded companies and private businesses. The import-export volume by State-owned enterprises, foreign-funded companies and private businesses grew 37 percent, 2 percent and 5.5 percent.

Processing trade dominated the foreign trade as its volume reached 36.02 billion yuan, accounting for 68.6 percent of the total.

As for trade to different regions, Shanxi increased imports and exports to the European Union, the United States and South Korea with the value of foreign trade to the three areas up by 16.9 percent, 48.4 percent and 30.6 percent year on year.