Ningbo Daily: The password behind the struggle of private enterprises' import and export volume exceeding one trillion yuan ahead of schedule

There are 28000 private business entities with import and export performance, exceeding the trillion yuan mark one month ahead of schedule, with a year-on-year growth rate of 4%. The proportion of foreign trade in the same period increased by 1.2 percentage points compared to the same period last year, reaching 77.6%. This is the Ningbo Customs' report on the import and export performance of private enterprises in Ningbo for the first 11 months released on December 10th.
Since the beginning of this year, Ningbo's foreign trade has experienced unprecedented uncertainty, but private enterprises have withstood the "stress test" and driven a 3 percentage point increase in Ningbo's total import and export volume during the same period.
Among them, the export value was 737.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.1%, accounting for 82.8% of the total export value of Ningbo during the same period; The import value was 288.35 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.1%, accounting for 66.8% of the total import value of Ningbo during the same period.
In 2005, it exceeded 100 billion yuan, in 2018, it exceeded 500 billion yuan, and in 2024, it exceeded one trillion yuan... In the vast 'sea going army', flexible and proactive private enterprises have always played the role of the 'main force' and are the 'stabilizing force' for Ningbo's foreign trade, "said the relevant person in charge of Ningbo Customs.
What kind of struggle code is hidden behind breaking the trillion yuan mark one month ahead of schedule?
Strong toughness in structural optimization
In the standardized intelligent production factory of Ningbo Jingwei CNC Co., Ltd., multiple automated industrial production lines such as machine head assembly line, chassis assembly line, and crossbeam assembly line are operating with high precision, high efficiency, and orderly operation.
After strict quality inspection and packaging processes, this batch of intelligent cutting devices equipped with IoT modules will soon be sent to Slovenia to assist local textile enterprises in achieving digital transformation.
This equipment, known as the 'industrial tailor' by foreign companies, can achieve full process automation from design drawing import to finished product output through non standardized design and standardized modular combination, helping to improve production efficiency by 300% and material utilization rate by over 90%, "said Zheng Zhaoze, Deputy General Manager of Jingwei CNC.
At present, the company has over 30000 customers worldwide and exported 120 million yuan in the first 11 months.
In Ningbo, there are many private enterprises like Jingwei CNC that are deeply involved in technological upgrades. They focus on their main business, hone their internal strength, promote the transformation of export products towards technology intensive and green, and enhance the resilience of foreign trade development through structural optimization.
According to statistics from Ningbo Customs, the export value of mechanical and electrical products from private enterprises in Ningbo reached 430.96 billion yuan in the first 11 months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 6.9%, accounting for 58.4% of the total export value of private enterprises in Ningbo during the same period, becoming the "basic foundation" for stabilizing the development of private enterprise exports.
Entering the production workshop of Zhejiang Zhongzhe New Energy Co., Ltd., Chen Bin, Vice President of Zhongzhe Group and General Manager of Zhongzhe New Energy, showed reporters two new energy storage batteries: "The new product is lighter in weight and smaller in size, but has better energy storage performance because we have upgraded the energy density to enhance the market competitiveness of the new product
The market quickly provided positive feedback to businesses. Since the beginning of this year, the export of energy storage batteries to ASEAN alone has exceeded 20 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of over 50%.
Chen Bin told reporters that the new demand brought about by the global green energy transformation is the source of confidence for private enterprises in the face of uncertainty. "By doing one thing, being dedicated, based on market research, industry judgment, and policy guidance, the group has extended its new energy business footprint to more than 40 countries and regions.
Seeking business opportunities through flexibility and variability
With a new model, we achieved an export value of 160 million yuan in the first 11 months of this year, a year-on-year increase of over 10%. "Yesterday, Zhou Bin, the head of Zhejiang Fenghua Aiyimei Clothing Co., Ltd., stood next to the packaged customized suits and told reporters about the company's transformation path.
The new model he mentioned is called "Cross border E-commerce+Customization" dual wheel drive.
In the past, Zhou Bin's company inherited the "Red Gang Tailoring" technique, but engaged in OEM and ODM business. Due to the low technological threshold and tendency towards homogenization of clothing products, the profits generated from exports are becoming increasingly meager.
Transformation and upgrading are imperative.
So, Aiyimei led a joint venture with six local peers to establish Ningbo Fengshang Technology Co., Ltd., transforming into a cross-border comprehensive supply chain service provider, providing full chain services for overseas small and medium-sized customers——
Customers can complete the selection and sizing of products through 3D virtual simulation, achieving personalized customization of "one person, one version". The goods can be delivered to Europe and America in as fast as 3 days.
The self deprecation of Ningbo's foreign trade personnel, 'It's difficult every year to do it, every year.' Behind this is the calmness to face challenges and the wisdom to actively seek change. Private enterprises in Ningbo can always timely perceive changes in overseas markets, insight and capture potential business opportunities, and provide the "Ningbo Solution".
Cross border e-commerce is a channel where emerging markets and traditional markets are equally important sources of foreign trade opportunities.
On October 28th, the China ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Protocol was officially signed, focusing on rule upgrades in emerging fields such as digital economy, green economy, and supply chain connectivity. Ningbo Laimeng Robot Co., Ltd. became a direct beneficiary.
ASEAN countries are gradually upgrading to Industry 4.0, and there is a real demand for industrial automation and machine replacement solutions. With the 3.0 version upgrade protocol and one-on-one assistance from Yinzhou Customs, the competitiveness and market share of our intelligent manufacturing products are expected to further increase, "said Ke Sisi, Director of Laimeng Robot Foreign Trade.
At present, enterprises are accelerating the research and development of controllable maglev conveyor lines to meet the upgrading needs of ASEAN customers. Next year, the export value of enterprises to ASEAN is expected to exceed 20 million yuan, with an annual growth rate of around 20%.
The market development capability of private enterprises directly drives the sustained release of foreign trade vitality.
According to Ningbo Customs data, ASEAN is currently the third largest trading partner of private enterprises in Ningbo and is about to leap to become the second largest trading partner. The import and export volume in the first 11 months was 148.67 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12.8%.
'Chain escort' enhances advantages
In our workshop, with one magnetic levitation motor component, one integrated chip, and one blade, we can coordinate the operation of multiple upstream and downstream supporting enterprises, "said Wu Haoze, the person in charge of Ningbo Aiklipu Electric Appliance Co., Ltd., highlighting the close synergy advantage of Ningbo's foreign trade industry chain.
In the first 11 months of this year, the export value of this enterprise exceeded 140 million yuan, an increase of more than 70% compared to the same period last year. Its independently developed pet hair suction and cutting machine has become the online sales champion of pet hair suction products in the European market on cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Amazon.
Behind the hot selling products is not only the accumulation of more than 20 years of experience in the hair care equipment industry in Xikou, Fenghua, but also a precise and efficient "chain escort".
In response to the product's focus on the European market, Fenghua Customs has made the popularization of the EU's "Regulations on the Registration, Evaluation, Licensing, and Restriction of Chemicals" a key priority, systematically interpreting key requirements such as substance registration and restriction, and also providing targeted updates on the latest EU technology and trade measures to warn in advance of the risks of newly added restricted substances.
Similar policy support and precise services have already become the confidence for private enterprises to achieve stability and long-term success in the process of "going global".
Based on the demand for enterprise market expansion, the number of overseas key exhibitions in the 2025 business system key exhibition catalog has increased by 72% compared to the previous year, reaching 172, covering 45 countries and regions. Traditional markets and emerging markets are advancing simultaneously, with emerging market exhibitions accounting for over 60%;
In terms of helping enterprises smoothly "go global", by 2025, Ningbo will add 5 international mutual recognition, overseas qualification and service points for inspection, testing and certification in industries such as new energy vehicles and smart home appliances, and guide enterprises to actively comply with international high standard economic and trade rules, and increase the pilot efforts of standard internationalization;
Around the development of new business models, China Export&Credit Insurance Ningbo Branch has launched the country's first "Easy Cross Protection 2.0" comprehensive service plan, expanding the service scope to the entire cross-border e-commerce ecosystem, and providing a "package" of risk protection through a combination of products such as export credit insurance and overseas investment insurance;
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The future path of foreign trade will inevitably have obstacles. However, in various uncertain environments, the confidence of private enterprises in Ningbo to move forward steadily has never diminished.