In the first three quarters of this year, China’s total import and export value reached an unprecedented 32.33 trillion yuan, marking a significant milestone as it is the first time it has exceeded 32 trillion yuan during this period. This represents a year-on-year growth of 5.3%. As China’s foreign trade experiences rapid expansion, there is an increasing demand for higher quality standards and enhanced value in foreign trade across various regions.
**Unlocking Potential**
At the production facility of Zhejiang Aoli Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. in the Xinchang High-tech Zone, automated production lines are operating at full capacity to fulfill a series of sofa orders for European clients. Labor-intensive products like furniture remain a traditional export strength for Zhejiang, where six out of seven types of labor-intensive exports are outpacing national growth rates. In the first eight months, Zhejiang’s labor-intensive product exports totaled 797.63 billion yuan, increasing by 8.9%. Local furniture exporters are not only maintaining stable shipments to traditional markets in Europe and the U.S. but are also actively exploring emerging markets to cultivate new growth opportunities.
To tap into the potential of traditional industries in foreign trade, precision in matching international market demands is critical. This year, orders at Jinhua’s Odier Sporting Goods Co., Ltd. have been consistently rising, with production lines frequently operating at capacity. The concurrent effects of significant events such as the Paris Olympics and the French Open have propelled Zhejiang’s sports goods exports, which surged by 26.7% to 21.36 billion yuan in the first eight months. Jinhua alone saw exports worth 9.65 billion yuan, reflecting a 36% increase.
Addressing the overseas expansion needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, Jiangsu province has innovated its industrial development model, promoting integrated development of “cross-border e-commerce + industrial clusters.” This strategy is accelerating the entry of more “Made in Jiangsu” products into international markets. In regions like Suzhou, Taizhou, and Nantong, clusters of medical device industries have emerged, exemplified by Jiangsu Weiyuan Network Technology Co., which showcases over 10,000 mid to high-end medical products on its self-built platform, attracting considerable foreign interest, according to their Sales Director Qian Miao.
**Focusing on New Opportunities**
Stepping into the production area of Nanjing Tianjia Environmental Technology Co., Ltd., various electromechanical products are being assembled and prepared for export to countries including the UAE, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. “We specialize in providing green and low-carbon comprehensive solutions for large data centers and GMP pharmaceutical factories. Our products, known for their high stability and adaptability to unique environments like deserts, have gained tremendous market acceptance. This year, our exports to Uzbekistan have skyrocketed by 166%,” said COO Wu Xiaoqing. The impressive export data stems from ongoing investments in R&D, with over 200 laboratories, more than a quarter of which meet international advanced standards.
The share of high-end, intelligent, and green products in Jiangsu’s exports is gradually increasing, with many companies shifting their overseas strategies from cost advantages to technological strengths. In the first eight months, Jiangsu exported electromechanical products worth 1.6 trillion yuan—a 10.4% increase, accounting for 68.3% of the province’s total export value and boosting the overall export growth rate by 7 percentage points. Exports of computers and components, mobile phones, ships, and auto parts rose by 5.3%, 37.1%, 75.1%, and 10.4%, respectively.
**Expanding Open Markets**
Recently, a batch of copper concentrates entered the Xinjiang Free Trade Zone through the Alashankou port, marking the first implementation of a joint supervision model for customs and unloading areas in the region. This model has emerged as a new engine driving foreign trade growth in Xinjiang. In the first seven months, the Free Trade Zone recorded imports and exports totaling 85.13 billion yuan, accounting for 33.6% of the province’s total foreign trade value.
As various national and local guidelines are introduced, foreign trade formats are becoming increasingly diverse. Cross-border e-commerce has become a key driver for high-quality trade development in Shandong province. The Weifang Comprehensive Bonded Zone has rolled out a series of reforms aimed at expanding openness and facilitating trade, providing end-to-end services for enterprises. In the first eight months, the bonded zone’s imports and exports reached 52.01 billion yuan, representing 22.4% of the city’s total, with a year-on-year increase of 13.1%. “Thanks to the supply chain finance services in the bonded zone, companies significantly improved their cash flow efficiency, unlocking 20 million yuan in working capital monthly to further explore markets,” said Zhang Shengbao, General Manager of Weifang Huida Supply Chain Co., Ltd.
Moreover, Shandong’s development of inland ports has addressed structural gaps in logistics infrastructure in the region. “Previously, we had to transport goods to Qingdao Port before shipping them worldwide. Now, after inspections at the inland port, we can send them directly by train to board vessels in Qingdao,” said Wu Jingyi from Linqing Yixuan Bearing Co. The logistics landscape has transformed into a scenario where Qingdao Port in the east and Linqing Port in the west establish a robust container transportation network, enhancing Linqing’s appeal as a strategic transport hub.
Currently, Linqing Inland Port has partnered with 17 global shipping companies, which not only facilitates Shandong’s goods to reach international waters but also attracts exports from neighboring provinces like Henan and Hebei.
