In the wave of economic development, Gansu is experiencing a magnificent transformation from a “province rich in resources” to an “province strong in intelligent manufacturing”, and the “three new things” of foreign trade have accelerated growth.
In March 2026, in the Lanzhou New Area Comprehensive Bonded Zone, 216 domestic new energy vehicles completed customs clearance verification and were sent to Russia on the China-Europe train.
This move not only set a new regional vehicle export record, but also became a vivid portrayal of the explosive growth of the province’s “three new items” of foreign trade.
According to Lanzhou Customs data, in the first four months of 2026, the total import and export value of Gansu Province reached 26.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.1%.
Among them, the export value of the “three new” products represented by electric vehicles, photovoltaic products, and lithium batteries reached 280 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 93.3%, far exceeding the overall foreign trade growth rate, and becoming the core force driving the province’s foreign trade growth.
As an inland province in the northwest, Gansu relies on the “Belt and Road” node location and the comprehensive bonded zone policy dividends to accelerate the opening of the sea channel connecting Europe and Asia.
The new energy vehicle export business of Lanzhou New District Comprehensive Bonded Zone is operated by Gansu Lugang Jisheng Supply Chain Comprehensive Bonded Zone Branch.
This young company, established in April 2024, relies on the “tax refund upon entering the zone” policy and the logistics advantages of China-Europe trains to innovatively use the “bonded warehousing + advance declaration + direct port release” integrated customs clearance model to significantly shorten customs clearance time and reduce operating costs.
Since 2025, this model has helped Lanzhou New District Comprehensive Bonded Zone export more than 600 vehicles.
The company’s performance growth can be described as leaps and bounds. The export value in 2024 was 266,400 yuan, rising to 39 million yuan in 2025, a year-on-year increase of nearly 146 times, and it has successfully opened up Central Asian markets such as Uzbekistan.
Also growing rapidly is Tianshui Tiansheng Zhicheng Used Car Trading Co., Ltd.
As one of the first companies in Gansu to obtain second-hand car export qualifications, relying on the precise guidance of Tianshui Customs’ “one enterprise, one policy”, its export value will reach 31 million yuan in 2025, a 6-fold year-on-year increase.
The strong demand in the Central Asian market, the cost-effective core competitiveness of domestic second-hand cars, and the support of local fiscal and taxation policies have allowed Gansu’s second-hand car exports to grow from scratch into a new sector of foreign trade.
Channel innovation solves the problem of “how to get out”, and industrial upgrading answers the core proposition of “what to get out”.
Relying on resource advantages, a group of local new energy manufacturing companies are promoting high-end products “Made in Gansu” to the world.
In June 2024, 1,370 photovoltaic modules from Gansu Chaoxun New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. were sent to Poland, marking the first time that “Gansu Intelligent Manufacturing” photovoltaic products entered the European high-end market.
Founded only three years ago, the company has planned to build a 5GW monocrystalline silicon pulling and 5GW photovoltaic module production line with an annual output. The product quality is in line with mainstream international standards, and the export market has expanded to Poland, Germany, the Netherlands and other countries.
In the Jiuquan Economic and Technological Development Zone, the heterojunction bifacial microcrystalline cells produced by Ouhao New Energy Power (Gansu) Co., Ltd. have a photoelectric conversion rate as high as 25.6%, reaching the world’s top level.
In 2025, the company’s export volume will reach 222 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.9 times, accounting for more than 40% of the province’s photovoltaic product exports, and its products are sold well in India, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.
Sun Zhenming, general manager of the company, lamented: “In the past, companies in the east sold photovoltaic products to the world. Now our companies in Gansu can also sell new energy products all over the world.”
From resource export to smart manufacturing export, Gansu’s new energy industry is completing a profound transition.
The former advantages in wind and solar resources are being transformed into manufacturing advantages and export advantages, allowing this northwest province to occupy an increasingly important position in the global new energy industry chain.
Facing barriers such as overseas market access rules, technical standards and cross-border trade customs clearance, relevant departments in Gansu have provided precise services to protect enterprises going overseas.
Wang Hongliang, Deputy Commissioner of Lanzhou Customs, said that relying on precise technical and trade assistance services has effectively solved the problem of enterprises being unfamiliar with overseas standards.
For the “three new types” enterprises, Lanzhou Customs has established a special class to implement “one enterprise, one policy” customized services, deeply interpret overseas access rules, and guide enterprises to obtain customs clearance qualifications.
At the same time, we will promote convenient measures such as “advance declaration” and “appointment inspection”, and establish a “one-on-one” liaison mechanism with customs companies to achieve immediate review and rapid release of goods. Regularly issue risk warnings for key markets, and help companies enjoy the benefits of tariff reductions through digital review and signing of certificates of origin.
In Gulang County, the local tax bureau set up a special service team for Gansu Chaoxun New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. to provide guidance in handling the first export tax refund of more than 70,000 yuan, easing its financial pressure; the logistics advantages of Wuwei International Dry Port have also significantly reduced the company’s export costs.
Wang Hongliang believes that the rapid growth of Gansu’s “three new items” exports has benefited from dual dynamics: on the one hand, Gansu’s new energy equipment manufacturing industry has a solid foundation and has cultivated high-quality local enterprises; on the other hand, the willingness and ability of enterprises to go overseas have continued to improve. Under policy guidance and precise services, they have gradually shifted from passively accepting orders to actively exploring overseas markets, which has injected strong endogenous power into export growth.
