Foreign trade exports in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, amassed a 2.14 billion yuan ($328 million) turnover in January. The figure is 29.4 percent up compared to the same period last year and sets a positive benchmark for the further development of foreign trade business in the city, according to the city's customs office.

Of the total amount generated, general foreign trade accounted for 2.01 billion yuan, an increase of 38.7 percent compared to a year ago.

The city's private sector saw revenues from foreign export trade in January jump 58.4 percent from the same period last year to 1.36 billion yuan. Enterprises invested by foreign funds netted 630 million yuan, up 7.3 percent compared to 2014.

As of the end of January, Zhanjiang's foreign trade export to ASEAN countries had reached 720 million yuan; an amount double than that of 2014. Additionally, trade to the US accounted for 430 million yuan, up 28.5 percent on last year; while trade to Europe accounted for 190 million yuan, rising by 19.9 percent; and trade to Saudi Arabia accounted for 110 million yuan, a 2.5 fold increase.

Furniture exports from Zhanjiang accounted for 1.03 billion yuan in revenue for January, up 59.6 percent compared to last year; while aquatic and marine products accounted for 380 million yuan, up 14.2 percent; and mechanical and electrical products accounted for 340 million yuan-worth of exports, 9.5 percent more than the year before.

Zhanjiang Port has shipping connections with more than a hundred countries and regions across the world, helping the city secure steady growth in foreign trade exports over the years.