Wuxi is listed as a 2018 China Top 100 Foreign Trade City, ranking 11th nationwide. [Photo/IC]

Wuxi was listed as a 2018 China Top 100 Foreign Trade City, ranking 11th nationwide, according to China Customs.

In 2018, Wuxi recorded 15 percent growth in the value of imports and exports, trading goods worth $93.44 billion, well above the provincial average. A total of 223 countries and regions became the city's trade partners.

Thanks to the rapid development of new industries in Wuxi, foreign trade in hi-tech products contributes over 25 percent to the total value, with a year-on-year increase of 22.6 percent in 2018.

Last year, exports of solar cells recorded an increase of 35.3 percent, hitting $1 billion. From January to June this year, the value reached $790 million, a yearly increase of 85.7 percent.

Officials said that large amounts of equipment and raw materials also contributed a lot to the buoyant imports due to the construction of Wuxi branches for Huahong Group, SK Hynix and international drug group AstraZeneca.