Mongolia's vehicle imports increased by around 56 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2019, totaling 242.5 million U.S. dollars, local media reported on Thursday, citing the Mongolian Customs General Administration (MCGA).

The Asian country imported a total of 19,705 cars in the first three months of this year, up 41 percent compared to the same period last year, the MCGA said in a statement, noting that the increase is partly related to an economic recovery of the country.

In addition, the resource-rich country imported a total of 4,498 heavy trucks in the first quarter of 2019, up over 14 percent year on year. The rise in imports of heavy trucks was mainly attributed to expansion in mining activity and implementation of several major infrastructure projects, according to the MCGA.

Almost 90 percent of the total imported cars in the first quarter of 2019 were imported from Japan, while 40 percent of the heavy trucks were imported from China, the MCGA added.