Since December 2025, Hunan's imports and exports have maintained steady growth for seven consecutive months. The first half of this year recorded the largest import and export volume in the past three years.
"New" stands out as a highlight in this half-year report.
Monthly exports of "New Three" products exceed 3 billion CNY for the first time
Recently, at Hame Technology's production base in the Xiangxi High-tech Industrial Development Zone, smart production lines are running at full capacity as workers busily packing lithium-ion batteries which will be shipped to the European market via international logistics. "Our AC batteries and balcony energy storage batteries are in high demand in Europe. We are fully booked through the second half of the year,"said Zhang Zhiqiang, the company's general manager, excitedly.
Data shows that Hunan has been continuously accelerating its pace in upgrading foreign trade structure toward "new" and "green."
In the first half of this year, Hunan's exports of high-end equipment closely related to new quality productive forces reached 9.76 billion CNY, a year-on-year increase of 17.5%; exports of green and low-carbon "new three" products—new energy vehicles (NEVs), lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products—reached 11.98 billion CNY, up 35.5%. In June alone, Hunan's exports of the "new three" products reached 3.2 billion CNY, marking that monthly exports have surpassed the 3 billion CNY threshold for the first time and setting a historical record.
"From power banks to electric buses, they are widely recognized in overseas markets," said Lan Shengbin, deputy head of the Changsha Customs Authority. He noted that in the first half of the year, Hunan's exports of electric vehicles reached 6.99 billion CNY, rising 27.3%; exports of lithium-ion batteries reached 4.36 billion CNY, up 43.2%; and exports of photovoltaic products reached 630 million CNY, soaring 105.3%.
In the first half of the year, Hunan's "new three" products were exported to 152 countries and regions, with exports to traditional markets growing by 31.8% and those to emerging markets such as ASEAN and Brazil achieved double-digit growth. Exports to Africa surged by 97.4%.
The "Circle of Friends" expands to over 230 countries, as "Made in Hunan" gains global popularity
Overseas, in the Mexican venue of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 115 light-rail trains developed by CRRC are operating efficiently, with an average daily ridership exceeding 1.25 million. Off the field, officially licensed World Cup peripheral plastic toys produced by the Sunny & Sandy (Hunan) Group Limited were shipped from the Xiangtan Comprehensive Free Trade Zone to the United States, Mexico, and many other countries and regions worldwide.
Leveraging the market opportunities of the World Cup, enterprises in the Xiangtan Comprehensive Free Trade Zone exported licensed toys valued at 280 million CNY in the first half of the year, a more than threefold increase.
The World Cup boom is just part of Hunan's foreign trade layout. This year, Hunan's trading partners have continued to grow. In the first half of the year, over 230 countries and regions traded with Hunan, with 32 of them recording bilateral trade exceeding 2 billion CNY. Hunan achieved double-digit growth in import and export with about 40% of its trading partners.
Changsha Customs data show that Hunan's imports and exports to traditional markets such as Hong Kong SAR, the European Union, and the United States grew by 13.9%, 24.5%, and 3.4% respectively, while those to emerging markets like ASEAN, Latin America, and Russia increased by 18.7%, 27.5%, and 45.3%. Imports and exports to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative rose 13% to 174.35 billion CNY, and those to Africa totaled 26.63 billion CNY. To date, Hunan has economic and trade exchanges with all Belt and Road countries and RCEP member states, achieving "sourcing from the world and selling around the world."
As the trade partner network continues to expand, logistics channels remain efficient and smooth. From January to June this year, the China-Europe (Changsha) Freight Train Service operated 584 trips for import and export, a year-on-year increase of 61.33%, with a cargo value of 1.370 billion USD, up 39.24%.
Institutional innovation vitalizes foreign trade entities
"After securing the AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification, we have an export inspection rate of less than 1% and are authorized to independently issue certificates of origin. This has significantly boosted our international competitiveness, and our clients are very satisfied," said Zhang Liqian, customs affairs manager at Hunan Arshine Group.
The new Measures on the Credit Management of Enterprises Registered and Filed with Customs took effect on April 1. The Changsha Customs Authority introduced an innovative cultivation model for AEO certification, supporting leading enterprises to drive upstream and downstream SMEs in a "1+N" group certification approach. Hunan Arshine Group and its two subsidiaries simultaneously initiated the AEO certification process.
The customs clearance facilitation and market dividends brought by AEO certification are creating a demonstration effect among Hunan's foreign trade enterprises. In the first half of this year, Hunan added 76 AEO-certified enterprises, marking the highest increase on record and bringing the total to 197. Though accounting for only 0.5% of all foreign trade enterprises across Hunan, these companies contributed 35.9% of the province's total imports and exports.
Earlier this year, the Changsha Customs Authority rolled out 22 measures to support "Hunan enterprises going global" and 25 measures to facilitate cross-border trade, leveraging institutional innovation to help stabilize the scale and improve the structure of Hunan's foreign trade.
Miao embroidery and agricultural products from Shibadong Village in Xiangxi have completed customs intellectual property filing. In early July, Hunan Shibadong Village Collective Industrial Co., Ltd. received an overseas order for its Miao embroidery tiger-head hats on a cross-border e-commerce platform, and subsequently delivered to the overseas buyer.
As policy dividends come into effect, the vitality of Hunan's foreign trade entities continues to be ignited. In the first half, 8,355 enterprises across the province recorded actual import and export performance, a year-on-year increase of 20.3%. Private enterprises' imports and exports reached 239.01 billion CNY, rising 16.7% and accounting for over 80% of the province's total import and export value.
"The external environment is complex and volatile, with downward pressure on the global economy intensifying. In the second half of this year, Hunan's foreign trade will continue to face certain headwinds," said Lan. However, he noted that with various policies taking effect and being implemented promptly to stabilize growth, and by leveraging Hunan's geographical and industrial strengths, Hunan's foreign trade will continue to demonstrate resilience and vitality.
This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Pang Yuehui
Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn
Institutional innovation vitalizes foreign trade entities
"After securing the AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification, we have an export inspection rate of less than 1% and are authorized to independently issue certificates of origin. This has significantly boosted our international competitiveness, and our clients are very satisfied," said Zhang Liqian, customs affairs manager at Hunan Arshine Group.
The new Measures on the Credit Management of Enterprises Registered and Filed with Customs took effect on April 1. The Changsha Customs Authority introduced an innovative cultivation model for AEO certification, supporting leading enterprises to drive upstream and downstream SMEs in a "1+N" group certification approach. Hunan Arshine Group and its two subsidiaries simultaneously initiated the AEO certification process.
The customs clearance facilitation and market dividends brought by AEO certification are creating a demonstration effect among Hunan's foreign trade enterprises. In the first half of this year, Hunan added 76 AEO-certified enterprises, marking the highest increase on record and bringing the total to 197. Though accounting for only 0.5% of all foreign trade enterprises across Hunan, these companies contributed 35.9% of the province's total imports and exports.
Earlier this year, the Changsha Customs Authority rolled out 22 measures to support "Hunan enterprises going global" and 25 measures to facilitate cross-border trade, leveraging institutional innovation to help stabilize the scale and improve the structure of Hunan's foreign trade.
Miao embroidery and agricultural products from Shibadong Village in Xiangxi have completed customs intellectual property filing. In early July, Hunan Shibadong Village Collective Industrial Co., Ltd. received an overseas order for its Miao embroidery tiger-head hats on a cross-border e-commerce platform, and subsequently delivered to the overseas buyer.
As policy dividends come into effect, the vitality of Hunan's foreign trade entities continues to be ignited. In the first half, 8,355 enterprises across the province recorded actual import and export performance, a year-on-year increase of 20.3%. Private enterprises' imports and exports reached 239.01 billion CNY, rising 16.7% and accounting for over 80% of the province's total import and export value.
"The external environment is complex and volatile, with downward pressure on the global economy intensifying. In the second half of this year, Hunan's foreign trade will continue to face certain headwinds," said Lan. However, he noted that with various policies taking effect and being implemented promptly to stabilize growth, and by leveraging Hunan's geographical and industrial strengths, Hunan's foreign trade will continue to demonstrate resilience and vitality.
This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Pang Yuehui
Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn
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