CHANGSHA - The foreign trade volume of Central China's Hunan province exceeded 211 billion yuan ($32.7 billion) in the first five months of 2021, up 25.9 percent year-on-year, according to local authorities.

Exports reached over 143 billion yuan and imports hit nearly 68.1 billion yuan, respectively rising 29.5 percent and 18.8 percent compared with the same period last year, the Hunan provincial commerce department said.

The province's private companies posted strong performance during the period, with imports and exports standing at over 156.7 billion yuan, accounting for 74.2 percent of Hunan's total foreign trade.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States are the province's major trading partners, and trade with both has seen robust growth during the period.