Ningbo airport sees strong trade growth in Jan-Feb

Customs officials inspect imported goods in Ningbo. [Photo by Hu Bobo/Yongpai App]

Ningbo Lishe International Airport has recorded robust growth in foreign trade, signaling a strong start to the year.

According to Ningbo Customs, the city's airport handled 9,749.9 metric tons of import and export cargo in the first two months of 2026, marking a year-on-year surge of 72.5 percent. The total trade value reached 4.98 billion yuan ($722.43 million), jumping an impressive 208.6 percent.

Exports played a leading role in this growth. Outbound shipments were valued at 3.86 billion yuan, up 257.7 percent year-on-year. Mechanical and electrical products dominated, climbing 472.5 percent year-on-year and accounting for 85.2 percent of total exports.

Imports also expanded steadily, reaching 1.12 billion yuan, up 109.3 percent year-on-year. Both industrial materials and daily necessities saw rising demand, particularly fresh agricultural products such as lobsters, crabs, and eels. Notably, lobster imports surged more than 15-fold.

Hong Kong remained Ningbo's largest trading partner, accounting for more than half of total trade. The continued expansion of international cargo routes has further boosted growth. Ningbo airport currently operates nine international freight routes connecting major hubs across Asia, Europe, and North America.

Enhanced logistics models, including air-to-air transfers and multimodal transport, have improved efficiency and reduced costs, reinforcing Ningbo's role as a key gateway in global trade.