The secret of the global supply chain for the growth of China’s “three new” foreign trade exports is that it is based on technological innovation, supported by the coordination of the entire industry chain, and accurately meets the huge demand for global green transformation.
In the first two months of 2026, the export value of electric passenger vehicles, lithium batteries and other products increased by 50.7% year-on-year. This is not an accident, but the inevitable result of China’s manufacturing industry being deeply integrated into the global industrial chain.
Technological innovation is a real skill.
The so-called argument that the “three new things” rely on subsidies has long been untenable.
China has already phased out relevant export subsidies. The export tax rebate rate for photovoltaic modules has dropped from 9% to 0. The export tax rebate rate for lithium batteries has also been cleared to zero in 2027. However, exports still maintain rapid growth – reaching 1.28 trillion yuan in 2025, an increase of 3.5 times in five years.
More importantly, the prices of Chinese new energy vehicles in overseas markets are generally about twice as high as domestic prices, and the prices of photovoltaic modules and energy storage batteries exported to Europe and the United States are also higher than domestic prices.
Behind this are real technological breakthroughs: the manufacturing industry has long-term increased investment in research and development, promoted continuous breakthroughs in integrated circuits, industrial robots and other technologies, and accelerated the entry of high value-added products into the international market.
The vertical integration and universal parts design of new energy vehicles have brought about a 30% to 40% cost advantage. This is not low-price dumping, but fair competition in the market economy.
The entire industry chain collaborates to build resilience.
The core advantage of “New Three Things” is that China has a complete industrial chain from key materials to end products.
This highly collaborative system can achieve large-scale, stable and efficient production and supply in a short time.
For example, Shenzhen’s 3D printing industry has formed a mature “2-hour supply chain circle”, with a full chain of main control, motors, nozzles, etc., and leading companies can achieve “assembling a 3D printer every 2 minutes.”
China’s annual output in the fields of new energy vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic modules accounts for more than 70% of the world’s total. This scale effect not only reduces costs, but also improves resilience to market fluctuations.
A complete industrial chain allows Chinese companies to quickly respond to changes in global demand. For example, 3D printers have shifted from industrial grade to consumer grade, leading the world with high cost performance and rapid iteration.
Follow the pace of global green transformation.
The growth of the “three new things” is essentially the precise connection between global green demand and China’s supply.
The International Energy Agency predicts that global demand for new energy vehicles will reach 45 million units by 2030, more than double that of 2025.
Chinese products just fill the gap in green production capacity: the industrialization process in emerging markets such as Africa, Latin America, and ASEAN is accelerating, and there is strong demand for photovoltaics, lithium batteries and other power facilities.
The green transformation of European and American countries also requires China’s new energy vehicles and energy storage batteries to reduce carbon emissions.
At the same time, China is shifting from “product export” to “technology export, standards-led”. For example, new energy vehicle charging standards have become global mainstream, and UHV power transmission standards have enabled the entire value chain to be exported overseas.
This is not only selling products, but also participating in shaping global green rules.
The rise of China’s “Three New Things” marks the transformation from a participant in the global supply chain to a leader in green transformation.
