Winny Wang/ Shanghai Daily news

The European Union last month imported more goods from Shanghai's port than any other markets, becoming the most important trading destination with the city for the first time.

It also sold more goods to China via local ports than any other countries and regions, Shanghai Customs said yesterday.

Shanghai port exported goods worth US$6.19 billion to the EU, booming 56.8 percent from a year earlier, and imported US$2.58 billion in goods, up 32.7 percent.

The city's port foreign trade volume reached US$38.74 billion last month, surging 28.2 percent from a year earlier. Its export volume rose 34.2 percent to US$24.99 billion and the import volume grew 18.6 percent to US$13.75 billion.

In the period, the city's port trade with the United States grew 30.7 percent to US$7.28 billion, and that with Japan grew 17.8 percent to US$5.15 billion.

Shanghai Port closed out last year with 537 million tons of cargo, hanging onto its world number one ranking. The city's facilities beat world No. 2 Singapore Port by 90 million tons.