Erenhot, the largest land port on the China-Mongolia border in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, posted major increases in both freight volume and trade value in the first three quarters of this year, according to local customs authorities.
In the period, import and export trade via the port reached a total value of 87.63 billion yuan (about 13.76 billion U.S. dollars), up 17.1 percent year on year.
Imports totaled 31.38 billion yuan, up 21.7 percent year on year, while exports reached 56.25 billion yuan, up 14.6 percent year on year. Meanwhile, freight volume rose 14.3 percent year on year to over 16.94 million tons.
Key imports included coal, fluorspar, iron ore, as well as cashmere and wool, while exports were mainly construction materials, engineering vehicles, automobiles and daily consumer goods.
The China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) was established in April this year and comprises three subzones in Hohhot, the capital of the autonomous region; Manzhouli, a northern border city; and Erenhot.
Supported by the FTZ's policies, Erenhot's transaction volume via border residents' mutual trade reached 705 million yuan by Sept 30, up 54.95 percent year on year and surpassing the 700-million-yuan mark 51 days earlier than last year.
As the only entry-exit gateway for the China-Europe Railway Express central corridor, Erenhot's railway port currently operates 76 routes, connecting to over 70 hub stations across more than 10 countries, including Germany and Poland.
China-Mongolia border port sees major cargo volume, value rise in Q1-Q3
