Export products are moving towards greenness and novelty, with foreign trade ranking third in the country. From scale to value, we can see the new logic of Zhejiang's foreign trade

Recently, the "Annual Report" of China's foreign trade in 2025 was released - the total import and export volume for the year reached 4.547 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.8%, which is the ninth consecutive year that China has maintained growth.
At the same time, various provinces have also successively released foreign trade data. In 2025, the total import and export volume of Zhejiang will be 5.55 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%. After Guangdong and Jiangsu, Zhejiang has firmly established its position as the third largest foreign trade country in China.
The reporter found that the driving force of foreign trade growth is accelerating: previously mainly relying on scale expansion, now more relying on structural optimization and moving towards green and new development. The traditional products undergoing transformation and upgrading, as well as the "new three" products represented by electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaics, together constitute the main drivers of growth.
Who is leading the way
The foreign trade performance of various provinces in the country can be divided into three categories.
The major provinces in foreign trade bear the heavy burden - Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Shandong, Beijing, and Fujian, with a total import and export volume of 34.11 trillion yuan, contributed more than half of China's foreign trade increment and stabilized the basic situation of China's foreign trade.
The growth momentum of central and western provinces is high, represented by Hubei (18.2%), Anhui (17.3%), and Henan (14.1%), with growth rates far exceeding those of the eastern regions, becoming a new driving force for growth.
Some provinces, such as Xinjiang (19.9%) and Gansu (16.2%), have a small base and are accelerating their catch-up, possessing the potential for foreign trade development.
Guangdong is still far ahead, ranking first.
In 2025, the total import and export value of Guangdong will be 9.49 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.4%. The acceleration of high-end industries, represented by high-tech products such as electronic information, high-end equipment, medical equipment, and electric vehicles, is a new driving force for Guangdong's foreign trade growth. In 2025, the export of high-tech products alone will reach 1.14 trillion yuan, breaking through the trillion yuan mark for the first time.
It is worth mentioning that Shenzhen's total foreign trade volume will leap to the top among cities in China in 2024. By 2025, the import and export volume of its high-tech products will account for nearly 60% of Guangdong Province's total, making it the largest in the country; The export scale of measuring and testing instruments, 3D printers, automotive spare parts, etc. is the largest in the country.
The Yangtze River Delta region plays a crucial role, with import and export growth reaching 6.3%.
Among them, the most eye-catching is Anhui.
By 2025, Anhui's total import and export volume will exceed 1 trillion yuan, becoming the only newly added "trillion" province that year, and the number of "trillion" foreign trade provinces in China will increase to 9. Behind this, automobile exports have made the greatest contribution - exporting 1.228 million vehicles (including chassis) throughout the year, ranking first in the country. Anhui has also become the first province in China to exceed one million vehicles in annual automobile exports.
Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai maintain their 2nd to 4th positions. The export proportion of Jiangsu's mechanical and electrical products exceeds 70%, with outstanding advantages in the export of electrical equipment and ships. Shanghai relies on high-end equipment manufacturing to drive growth, for example, the export of high-end machine tools has increased by nearly 30%, the export of industrial robots has grown by over 40%, and the export of surgical robots has increased by 3.7 times.
How much does Zhejiang offer
Turn your gaze back to within Zhejiang province.
In 2025, the total import and export volume of Zhejiang will be 5.55 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%. Among them, exports reached 4.19 trillion yuan, breaking through the 4 trillion yuan mark for the first time and growing by 7.2%. Zhejiang's import and export volume accounts for 12.2% and 15.5% of the national total, respectively, ranking third and second in the country.
From the perspective of export products, the advantages of core industries and supply chains are highlighted.
The main theme is to transition from green to new. Last year, the export of green products such as "New Three Samples" and wind turbines in Zhejiang increased by 28.1% and 98.2% respectively. In Ningbo, the total export of "new three types" products reached 38.51 billion yuan, an increase of 76.3%, and industrial robots also became popular in the international market, with a significant increase of 113%.
At the same time, traditional industries are increasing their added value. Products such as smart locks in Wenzhou, smart toilets in Taizhou, and smart hardware in Yongkang are empowered by digital technology to increase export unit prices; The export of labor-intensive products in Zhejiang reached 1.23 trillion yuan, an increase of 3.5%, accounting for over 30% of the national share for the first time, reaching 30.2%.
The strengthening of the global supply chain position, with Ningbo Zhoushan Port as an important hub, has driven the export of high-end equipment such as injection molding machines and key basic components such as fasteners. Jiaxing's new chemical materials and Shaoxing's high-end textile fabrics have become important links in the international brand supply chain.
From the perspective of overseas markets, emerging markets have become the main players.
Zhejiang's imports and exports to the top two trading markets, ASEAN and the European Union, reached 869.07 billion yuan and 845.74 billion yuan respectively, an increase of 16.5% and 8.7%, respectively. ASEAN became its largest trading market for the first time. Imports and exports to emerging markets such as the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa increased by 3.5%, 3.7%, and 11.5% respectively. In addition, the import and export of countries jointly building the "the Belt and Road" exceeded 3 trillion yuan for the first time, reaching 3.19 trillion yuan, an increase of 8.7%.
Among the 11 prefecture level cities in the province, Ningbo maintains the top spot. According to statistics from Ningbo Customs, the total import and export volume of Ningbo City reached 1.46 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.6%, maintaining growth for 10 consecutive years. In addition to the top two trading partners of the EU and ASEAN, Ningbo's import and export to Africa grew rapidly, reaching 20.4%, and its import and export to countries jointly building the "the Belt and Road" accounted for more than half of the total.
Jinhua's annual foreign trade volume has exceeded the 1 trillion yuan mark for the first time, becoming the 8th "trillion yuan foreign trade city" in the country. Especially in terms of exports, it contributes one-fifth of the total amount and half of the increment to the province. In 2025, the city's share of non exports in Zhejiang Province will reach a historic high of 41.2%. As the main force, Yiwu's import and export scale will exceed 800 billion yuan for the first time in 2025.
How to explore the future
In recent years, the international environment has undergone profound changes and the world economic and trade order has faced significant challenges.
Looking ahead to 2026, China's foreign trade will firmly develop towards improving quality, diversifying, and increasing efficiency.
Intelligent, green, and integrated products will form a new growth point for foreign trade. For example, in the digital economy fields such as cross-border e-commerce, green and low-carbon fields such as energy storage and photovoltaics, and high-end manufacturing fields such as ships and large aircraft, eastern provinces need to accelerate their upward shift towards the value chain.
Market diversification will continue to advance. In addition to deepening the "the Belt and Road" and RCEP markets, the development of markets in the Middle East, Latin America and Africa will also be further accelerated.
New formats and models such as cross-border e-commerce and market procurement trade will help more small and medium-sized enterprises lower their entry barriers to going global, and will also be promoted and upgraded.
Among these trends, Zhejiang has three advantages and opportunities——
Green and low-carbon industries have a foundation for development. Photovoltaics and lithium batteries have become advantageous industries in Zhejiang's "new three types" and are maintaining growth; At the same time, traditional pillar industries such as chemical and textile industries are actively promoting green technological transformation to enhance international competitiveness.
Going global has a solid foundation. More and more Zhejiang enterprises are flexibly carrying out global resource allocation, keeping high value-added links such as research and development and branding within the province, while optimizing the layout of production and assembly links globally, creating an upgraded version of the "sweet potato economy" ecosystem.
Digitization and high efficiency form core competitiveness. For example, platforms such as Alibaba International and AliExpress in Hangzhou have driven cross-border e-commerce to expand from consumer goods to intermediate products such as machinery and electronics. Cross border e-commerce is extending from transaction links to digital supply chains, brand marketing, and other chains, making the "digital brain" and physical logistics more closely integrated.