The province's imports and exports reached a massive 7.54 trillion yuan in the first eight months of the year, driven by soaring tech shipments and robust private sector activity.
Record-breaking months fuel Guangdong’s foreign trade growth in 2026
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In the first eight months of this year, Guangdong’s import and export volumes reached 7.54 trillion yuan (US$1.1 trillion), representing a 21.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year, official figures show.
Within this total, exports rose by 11.6 percent to 4.42 trillion yuan, while imports jumped by 39.5 percent to 3.12 trillion yuan. The trade surplus narrowed by 24.6 percent to 1.3 trillion yuan. According to news website Southcn.com, this performance accounts for 21.7 percent of China’s total foreign trade value.
[See more: China manufacturing PMI edges higher as industrial sector shows resilience in August]
August alone proved to be an exceptionally strong month for Guangdong’s foreign trade growth, with import and export activity reaching 1.05 trillion yuan, a 29.7 percent expansion. This marked the third consecutive month where trade figures exceeded the one-trillion-yuan milestone. August exports climbed by 16.7 percent to 617.95 billion yuan, while imports surged by 54.5 percent to 428.09 billion yuan.
Factors behind Guangdong’s foreign trade growth
The province recorded trade expansions with all its major partners, foreign or domestic. ASEAN, Hong Kong, the European Union, the United States, and Taiwan emerged as the top five trading partners. Notably, trade with Hong Kong and South Korea grew by over 40 percent.
A significant portion of Guangdong’s foreign trade growth was underpinned by high-value electromechanical products, which rose 15.7 percent to 3.11 trillion yuan, representing 70.5 percent of total exports. Integrated circuit shipments jumped 57.1 percent, while electrical equipment and computer components grew by 24.7 percent and 20.5 percent respectively. Emerging sectors also thrived, with electric vehicle exports rising 24.5 percent and 3D printers increasing by 1.2 times.
Private companies acted as the primary commercial engine, accounting for 67.7 percent of Guangdong’s total trade value at 5.1 trillion yuan, a 28.6 percent year-on-year increase.
On the import side, appetite for high-end components to support the artificial intelligence sector remained strong, with integrated circuit imports rising 51.6 percent. Customs officials expect this positive Guangdong’s foreign trade growth to remain stable for the rest of the year.
