Shanghai's imports and exports edged up 0.7 percent year-on-year to 681.56 billion yuan ($99 billion）in the first two months this year, with imports growing 4.7 percent from a year ago, according to the latest data from local customs.

During the January-February period, imports to Shanghai grew 4.7 percent to 415.99 billion yuan, against a 4.9 percent decline of exports that amounted to 265.57 billion yuan, the local Shanghai Observer reported on Wednesday, citing statistics from Shanghai Customs.

From January to February, Shanghai's exports and imports to and from RCEP members grew 2.5 percent to 231.87 billion yuan. The figure for the EU rose 5 percent to 137.45 billion yuan, while exports and imports between the city and the US fell 8.6 percent to 76.52 billion yuan.

Exports of new energy vehicles and lithium batteries were strong in the first two months, extending the growth momentum of the last quarter in 2022, increasing by 61.1 percent and 194.8 percent respectively.