Beijing Customs reported that in the first three quarters of 2021, imports and exports in the Beijing area (including central Party and government departments and institutions located in Beijing) reached CNY 2.23 trillion. This was an increase of 28.5 percent over the same period last year (the same below), and was also 5.8 percentage points higher than the national import and export growth rate seen in the same period.

In September, imports and exports in the Beijing area totaled CNY 277.63 billion, an increase of 31.9 percent . The activity seen during this month was on an unprecedented scale. During the month of September, imports reached CNY 219.58 billion, an increase of 25.1 percent, setting a new high after August. Meanwhile, exports reached CNY 58.05 billion, an increase of 66.3 percent. It was the second highest monthly export scale in history. From the first to the third quarter, Beijing's imports and exports were CNY 682.5 billion, CNY 745.85 billion, and CNY 805.27 billion respectively, showing a clear quarterly growth trend. This reflects the resilience and ability of Beijing's foreign trade to bounce back since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Beijing's imports and exports with major trading partners have continued to grow. In the first three quarters, Beijing area's imports from and exports to its five largest trading partners, the European Union (excluding the United Kingdom), ASEAN, the United States, Australia and Saudi Arabia, maintained respective growth rates of 13.2 percent, 29.6 percent, 78 percent, 23.4 percent and 37.3 percent. During the same period, Beijing area's trade with countries covered by the Belt and Road Initiative totaled CNY 897.04 billion, an increase of 14.6 percent and accounting for 40.2 percent of the total value of Beijing. Beijing area's imports and exports trade with RCEP countries totaled CNY 501.04 billion, an increase of 23.2 percent, accounting for 22.4 percent of the area's total value.