In the First Seven Months, Private Enterprises’ Imports and Exports Climb 7.4% Year-on-Year, Achieving the Year’s Highest Growth Rate

Data released by the General Administration of Customs on Thursday indicate that private enterprises across China registered combined imports and exports of RMB 14.68 trillion in the first seven months of the year, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 7.4%, the strongest growth rate recorded in 2025. This trade activity now represents 57.1% of the nation’s total foreign trade value, up 2.1 percentage points compared with the same period last year.

Analysis of trade patterns shows that flows between China and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative amounted to RMB 7.97 trillion over the first seven months, up 10% year-on-year and accounting for 54.3% of private-sector trade. The number of private firms with actual import-export operations reached 570,000, an increase of 8.5%, equivalent to 87.2% of all enterprises engaged in foreign trade nationwide.

Private businesses have led China’s foreign-trade landscape since 2019, overtaking foreign-funded enterprises to become the largest category of trade operators. For six consecutive years, the private sector has contributed roughly half of the country’s exports and outbound investment. In 2024, China’s total goods trade volume reached RMB 43.8468 trillion, up 5.0% year-on-year, of which RMB 24.3329 trillion—an 8.8% increase—was attributable to private enterprises, representing 55.5% of overall trade.

The robust performance of private-sector trade is underpinned by comprehensive policy support. The Central Economic Work Conference held in December called for the expansion of high-level opening-up and measures to stabilize both foreign trade and foreign investment. This year’s Government Work Report designated the stabilization of foreign-trade activity as a strategic priority, pledging enhanced support for securing overseas orders, optimizing financial and foreign-exchange services, expanding export-credit insurance scope, strengthening enterprise participation in overseas exhibitions, and promoting the development of cross-border e-commerce. The report also emphasizes improvements in cross-border logistics and accelerated construction of overseas warehouses.

Provincial authorities have echoed these national directives with tailored initiatives. In February, the Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce convened the “Ten Thousand Enterprises Going Global, Shandong Trade Worldwide” forum, committing in 2025 to extensive market-development campaigns, policy incentives, collaborative mechanisms, and financial resources aimed at boosting orders, enhancing quality, and improving efficiency. In April, at a symposium on high-quality foreign-trade growth in Zhejiang, Party Secretary Wang Hao stressed the necessity of identifying and resolving enterprise challenges, strengthening platform hubs, cutting logistics costs, and fostering an open environment characterized by optimal service levels, minimal expense, and maximum operational efficiency to deliver precise and effective support for companies.