A view of the Huangpu River in Shanghai. [Photo/VCG]

The value of Shanghai's foreign trade hit a record 2.1 trillion yuan ($290 billion) in the first half of 2024, up 0.6 percent year-on-year, according to Shanghai Customs.

Exports increased by 1.8 percent to 857.49 billion yuan, while imports decreased slightly by 0.2 percent to 1.24 trillion yuan.

Significant growth was seen in several export categories. Exports of ships built in the city surged by 92.3 percent to 31.89 billion yuan, contributing 1.8 percentage points to Shanghai's overall export growth.

Exports of plastic products and unwrought copper also increased significantly by 13.7 percent and 170 percent, respectively.

Shanghai is now the only city in the world capable of producing aircraft carriers, large luxury cruise ships and large liquefied natural gas or LNG tankers. The city is also focusing more on eco-friendly vessels, with an increasing number using clean fuels such as methanol and LNG.

Overall, the recent performance is seen as underscoring Shanghai's resilience and adaptability amid global economic challenges – reinforcing its status as a key player in international trade.