The total import and export value of China's goods trade in the first seven months of this year was 23.55 trillion yuan, and the foreign trade operation was stable and in line with expectations

The General Administration of Customs announced today that the total import and export value of China's goods trade in the first seven months of this year was 23.55 trillion yuan, and the foreign trade operation was stable and in line with expectations.

The first 7 months of this year

China's total import and export value of goods trade is 23.55 trillion yuan

According to customs statistics, the total import and export value of China's goods trade in the first seven months of this year was 23.55 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.4%. Among them, exports reached 13.47 trillion yuan, an increase of 1.5%; Imports reached 10.08 trillion yuan, a decrease of 1.1%.

Lv Daliang, Director of the Statistics and Analysis Department of the General Administration of Customs: Since the second quarter, China's monthly import and export scale has remained stable at over 3.4 trillion yuan. In July, China's imports and exports reached 3.46 trillion yuan, which is at a relatively high level in the same period in history. Compared to the same period in 2019, it increased by 25.7% and was 4.5% higher than the average for the same period from 2020 to 2022. Overall, China's foreign trade imports and exports have remained stable, in line with expectations, and the long-term positive fundamentals have not changed.

Customs statistics show that in the first seven months of this year, China's foreign trade structure continued to optimize, with general trade imports and exports reaching 15.41 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.1%. The import and export of private enterprises reached 12.46 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6.7%, accounting for 52.9% of the total import and export value.

The smart toaster in front of us is a new product launched by a private technology enterprise in Suzhou, Jiangsu. In this enterprise, there are a wide range of smart home appliances that are free to use and precisely tailored. More than 30 home appliances cover the needs of modern life such as food, shelter, and use.

A certain intelligent technology limited company, Luo Mingbo: In the first half of this year, our export volume was 107 million US dollars, with the main export markets being North America and Europe, and we are also actively exploring the Southeast Asian market.

Private enterprises are closely following the changes in the global trade pattern, actively expanding international markets, and continuously improving their competitiveness. At the same time, they are accelerating customs clearance, reducing documents, reducing taxes and refunds, and other government policies to help enterprises overcome difficulties. They are taking multiple measures to support the development of foreign trade.

Zhai Weiling, Deputy Director of Suzhou Customs Office in Wuzhong: We will continue to closely monitor the strategic layout and diversified development needs of key enterprises, guide enterprises to declare exports through cross-border e-commerce B2B export overseas warehouse models, and provide more and more convenient channels for "Suzhou Smart Manufacturing" to go global.

According to statistics from Nanjing Customs, in the first seven months, the import and export of private enterprises in Jiangsu Province reached nearly 1.3 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of about 4%. Private enterprises have achieved remarkable results in innovation and development, and have made outstanding contributions to high-quality exports.

Lv Daliang, Director of the Statistics and Analysis Department of the General Administration of Customs: Since the beginning of this year, the import and export growth rate of private enterprises has been higher than the overall rate, and the proportion has further increased. The number of private enterprises participating in foreign trade has continued to increase, reaching 478000 in the first seven months, an increase of 36000 compared to the same period last year. Recently, the opinions on promoting the development and growth of the private economy have been released and implemented. The high-quality development of the private economy continues to advance, and the international competitiveness of private enterprises will further improve.

According to statistics, in the first half of the year, the import and export of private enterprises in Shanghai increased by 20.7%, contributing 51.1% to the growth of the city's foreign trade. The number of private enterprises and trade scale have steadily increased, with a significant stabilizing effect on the overall market.

Yan Min, Director of the Macroeconomic Research Office of the Economic Forecasting Department of the National Information Center: The recent meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee emphasized the need to effectively optimize the development environment of private enterprises. With a series of policy measures being implemented and effective, it will further promote the full flow of innovation sources in the private economy and unleash creative vitality.

Close regional cooperation, diverse trade partners, and mutual progress

The statistical data released by the General Administration of Customs today shows that in the first seven months of this year, China's import and export growth with trade partners such as ASEAN, Latin America, and Africa was good, and the international market layout with close regional cooperation and diversified trade continued to be optimized.

At present, it is the season for processing and exporting pine nuts from Northeast China. As it is located at the western foot of Changbai Mountain, it has abundant sunshine and fertile black soil. Currently, nearly 70% of the world's pine nuts are processed, produced, and sold worldwide.

Yang Hong, Deputy General Manager of a certain Jilin Food Co., Ltd.: Our company's total import and export volume this year is 340 million yuan, an increase of 60.7% compared to the same period last year. It is mainly exported to more than 40 countries and regions, such as Britain and Germany, and the import trade countries mainly include Pakistan and other countries along the "the Belt and Road".

Since the beginning of this year, the import and export of pine nuts in Jilin Province have reached 1.65 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of over 90%. At the same time, Changchun Customs actively implements 18 specific support measures to optimize the business environment, assist in the export of high-quality agricultural products such as sweet corn and ginseng, promote industrial and technological innovation, and form new growth points for foreign trade.

Jiang Hua, Deputy Director of Changchun Customs Statistics Department: Since this year, the import and export of Jilin Province to countries along the "the Belt and Road" has increased by 29.4%, of which the import and export of pine nuts, soybeans and other agricultural products have increased significantly, becoming an important commodity for trade between Jilin Province and countries along the "the Belt and Road".

Under the pressure of foreign trade, China is vigorously exploring emerging markets, building high-level open platforms, cultivating and strengthening advantageous industries, and continuously gathering new momentum for foreign trade.

Lv Daliang, Director of the Statistics and Analysis Department of the General Administration of Customs: In the first seven months, China's imports and exports with ASEAN have maintained growth, and ASEAN continues to be China's largest trading partner. During the same period, China's import and export growth rate with Latin America and Africa was higher than the overall growth rate, with the two accounting for 8.2% and 4.8% of China's foreign trade, respectively. China's diverse and stable economic and trade relations continue to expand.

Entering the production workshop of this hat making enterprise located in Huai'an, Jiangsu, the automatic cutting machine is running at high speed. A hat is sewn in the hands of employees and walked off the production line.

Xu Yaran, the customs officer of a certain hat making company in Jiangsu: The batch of casual hats that I am about to export to Japan can enjoy a tariff reduction of 16000 RMB when Japan passes customs with the RCEP certificate.

With the full implementation of RCEP in June this year, the "circle of friends" of foreign trade continues to expand, bringing more confidence for enterprises to fight the global market and make international partners.

Yin Wenjing, Deputy Director of Huai'an Customs: We will continue to deepen our understanding in various industries, further improve the coverage of preferential policies for enterprises and the convenience of issuing certificates of origin, guide regional industrial clusters to fully utilize the optimization and extension of RCEP rules of origin, enhance the resilience of the industrial chain and supply chain, and stimulate the internal motivation of enterprises.

In the first seven months of this year, Nanjing Customs issued a total of 59400 RCEP certificates of origin, and it is expected that enterprises can enjoy a tariff discount of 280 million yuan in the destination country.

Customs statistics show that in the first seven months, China's imports and exports to ASEAN amounted to 3.59 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.8%, with ASEAN accounting for 15.3% of China's total foreign trade value. The import and export to the five Central Asian countries reached 331.69 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 35%, maintaining a rapid growth trend. Import and export to Latin America and Africa reached 1.92 trillion yuan and 1.14 trillion yuan respectively, with year-on-year growth of 5.5% and 7.4%.

China's import and export to countries along the "the Belt and Road" reached 8.06 trillion yuan, up 7.4% year on year, accounting for 2.2 percentage points of China's foreign trade to 34.2% year on year, and the international market became more diversified.

Yan Min, Director of the Macroeconomic Research Office of the Economic Forecasting Department of the National Information Center: Since the beginning of this year, China's "face-to-face" foreign exchanges at all levels have fully resumed, and home diplomacy has continued to heat up. In the first half of the year, the growth rate of imports and exports to ASEAN, Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia was higher than the overall growth rate of the same period. While stabilizing economic and trade exchanges with developed economies, China has also deeply explored markets in developing countries and regions such as ASEAN, and has closer economic and trade exchanges with countries along the Belt and Road, effectively promoting complementary advantages in industrial and supply chains.

Gathering of New Energy in Foreign Trade, Green Industries, and Bright Exports

The data released by the General Administration of Customs today shows that in the first seven months, China's import and export of mechanical and electrical products reached 7.83 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.4%, accounting for 58.1% of the total export value.

These days, a batch of golf carts have completed export procedures at Haikou Port Customs and are waiting to be shipped to the United States. More than ten types of new energy vehicles, including new energy vehicles with independent intellectual property rights, are produced by manufacturing enterprises. The small pure electric crossover vehicles launched in 2022 are in high demand in the US market, and this year, more than 25000 pure electric vehicles are planned to be produced.

Xiao Ye, Deputy General Manager of a certain Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd.: Currently, our company exports dozens of batches of golf carts every month, which can basically achieve the same day declaration, inspection, and release, greatly reducing our customs clearance costs.

Customs timely tracks the latest changes in global economic and trade rules and policies and regulations in key overseas automobile markets, helping enterprises analyze, formulate, and adjust export and investment plans.

Gan Jiayong, Director of the Comprehensive Business Department of Haikou Port Customs under Haikou Customs: Fully leverage the policy advantages of Hainan Free Trade Port, and promote the inclusion of phased research results on intellectual property protection in local regulations of the Hainan Free Trade Port Intellectual Property Protection Regulations. We conduct on-site research to understand the difficulties and needs of enterprises, provide one-on-one services to key enterprises, and create the optimal customs clearance and policy environment.

Customs statistics show that in the first seven months of this year, the proportion of China's exports of mechanical and electrical products increased, with year-on-year growth of 54.9%, 23.8%, and 21.9% for automobiles and their accessories, ships, and electrical equipment, respectively.

Yan Min, Director of the Macroeconomic Research Office of the Economic Forecasting Department of the National Information Center: The improvement in the quality of China's foreign trade is more significant. In terms of product import and export structure, the export of mechanical and electrical products accounts for nearly 60% of the total export volume. Among them, the export growth rate of high value-added products such as automobiles and spare parts, general machinery and equipment is faster; The new three types of products, including electric passenger vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar cells, have a stronger driving effect; The import of energy, raw materials, and consumer goods has achieved rapid growth; The import and export growth rate of general trade products with longer domestic industrial chains and higher gold content is faster than the overall growth rate.

In recent days, workers at this shipyard in Weihai, Shandong are intensifying the construction of a high-end oil electric hybrid passenger roll on/roll off ship, which is scheduled to be delivered to European customers by the end of October.

Cai Hailin, Chief of the Ship Supervision Section of the Weihai Customs Office at the Port: This ship has recorded more than 680 kinds of imported materials. The original planned delivery cycle was the end of this year. In order to reduce the delivery cycle, we worked with enterprises to speed up the manual filing, customs clearance of parts and components, and turnover of ship supply materials. At present, the progress of manual completion has exceeded 90%.

It is understood that this ship belongs to the new generation of green and environmentally friendly ships. Compared with conventional fuel tankers, it can achieve zero emissions during docking and berthing.

Ni Weisong, Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Jinling Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.: Currently, the company holds 24 orders for foreign trade ships, and the delivery date has been scheduled for 2028. Among the orders, the market share of high-end passenger roll on/roll off ships and automobile transport ships is leading globally.

As one of the advantageous fields in China's manufacturing industry, electromechanical products have won global market competitiveness with advanced production technology and mature industrial chains.

Lv Daliang, Director of the Statistics and Analysis Department of the General Administration of Customs: Since the beginning of this year, China's exports have withstood the pressure of weak external demand and maintained overall growth. The export performance of some products has been impressive, which is a vivid reflection of China's industrial upgrading and development. According to the latest data from the World Trade Organization, in the first five months, China's international export market share remained stable with an increase year-on-year, and China's position in the global industrial and supply chain structure remains stable.