On April 15, the 139th Canton Fair opened grandly in Guangzhou.
This year’s Canton Fair has an exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters, with more than 32,000 exhibitors, and the scale has reached a record high.
At the same time, the General Administration of Customs released data that in the first quarter of 2026, my country’s total import and export value of goods trade was 11.84 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15%, exceeding 11 trillion yuan for the first time in the same period in history, which fully demonstrates the resilience and determination of China’s economy to open up.
Judging from the data in the first quarter, my country’s foreign trade has shown many outstanding performances.
In terms of scale, imports and exports in the first quarter were 11.84 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 15%. Both exports and imports achieved rapid growth, laying a solid foundation for the economy throughout the year and achieving a “good start” for foreign trade.
In terms of structure, the proportion of exports of mechanical and electrical products and high-tech products continues to increase. New energy, electric vehicles, and lithium batteries continue to lead the way. Green, low-carbon, and smart technology products have become new growth points.
In addition, the market has become more diversified. Trade with countries along the “Belt and Road” and RCEP member countries has grown faster than overall. Emerging markets have become foreign trade stabilizers, reducing reliance on a single market.
This year’s Canton Fair focuses on smart technology and green and low-carbon, with new zones for smart wearables, consumer drones, new energy equipment, etc., vividly demonstrating the transformation of China’s manufacturing from “large quantity” to “high quality” and from “manufacturing” to “intelligent manufacturing”.
Exhibitors brought new products such as AI home appliances, photovoltaic energy storage, and intelligent robots, attracting the attention of global buyers.
Green and low-carbon products have become mainstream, and energy-saving equipment, environmentally friendly materials, and recycling technologies have been unveiled, in line with the global sustainable development trend.
Moreover, the Canton Fair adopts an online and offline integration model, allowing global merchants to connect without leaving home, and trade facilitation has been further upgraded.
There are three main driving forces for the recovery of China’s foreign trade.
First, policy support, continued efforts to stabilize foreign trade policies, and implementation of export tax rebates, customs clearance facilitation, cross-border e-commerce support and other measures have effectively reduced corporate costs and improved efficiency.
The second is industrial upgrading. The technological content and added value of Chinese manufacturing have been continuously improved, and brand influence has been enhanced. Price competition has shifted to value competition.
Third, global demand is picking up, the global economy is gradually recovering, overseas markets have increased demand for China’s high-quality goods, and advantageous products such as “New Three Products” continue to seize the international market.
Of course, current global trade still faces challenges such as protectionism, geopolitical conflicts, and supply chain fluctuations.
However, China’s foreign trade is resilient and has great potential. As a “barometer” of foreign trade, the Canton Fair has sent a positive signal.
Enterprises are accelerating innovation and winning the market with technology, brand and service. The foreign trade structure is also continuously optimized, and the road to high-quality development is getting wider and wider.
The first quarter data and the opening of the Canton Fair jointly confirm that China’s door to opening up is opening wider and wider, and Chinese manufacturing is taking a new attitude and making a strong breakthrough in the global market.
