Chongqing - On February 10, the Chongqing Customs revealed that the city’s total foreign trade value reached 715.42 billion yuan (about 98 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, marking a 0.4% year-on-year increase. Despite global economic uncertainties, Chongqing’s foreign trade returns to positive growth.
Chongqing's ability to achieve growth in foreign trade is remarkable in a challenging international landscape characterized by geopolitical tensions, rising trade barriers, and anti-globalization trends. Notably, exports surged to 507.36 billion yuan, up 6.2% year-on-year, making them the primary driver of the city’s trade recovery.
Vehicles are neatly lined up beside shipping containers at Chongqing Tuanjiecun Railway Station. As a flagship product of “Made in Chongqing,” automobiles have become a rising star in the city’s foreign trade exports. (Photo/Zhang Jinhui, Visual Chongqing)
“Made in Chongqing” electronics gain global recognition
At the Quanta (Chongqing) factory in Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Zone, production lines run at full speed, assembling millions of laptops for global markets.
“Many laptop manufacturers operated through the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday to meet overseas orders,” said a representative from Xiyong Micro-Electronics Industrial Park, one of the world’s largest notebook manufacturing hubs. Statistics from major manufacturers indicate that Xiyong exported over 38 million laptops in 2024, solidifying its position as a global leader in laptop production.
“Electronics, particularly laptops, remain Chongqing’s export backbone,” a Chongqing Customs official stated. In 2024, the city’s mechanical and electrical product exports reached 454.97 billion yuan, up 8.4%, with laptop exports leading nationwide.
Beyond electronics, Chongqing has accelerated industrial transformation under the "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system, earning global recognition for its diverse range of high-tech and industrial products.
Automobiles and motorcycles expand global reach
Chongqing’s Jiangjin District, a key industrial hub along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), has emerged as the city’s leading motorcycle production base. It houses 68 major automotive and motorcycle enterprises with expanding global reach.
Workers are racing to fulfill export orders at the production workshop of Chongqing Charming Motorcycle Co., Ltd. in Luohuang Industrial Park, Jiangjin District, Chongqing. (Photo/Qi Lansen)
“Many local motorcycle companies have successfully entered global markets,” said an official from Jiangjin District. Leading firms such as Chongqing RATO Holding Group and Chongqing Charming Motorcycle have made significant strides in overseas expansion.
The automotive and motorcycle sectors recorded substantial growth in 2024. Motorcycle exports reached 20.45 billion yuan, a 25.9% increase, ranking third in China. Automobile exports surged to 43.13 billion yuan, up 30% year-on-year.
China’s “new trio” exports—new electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products—also grew 23.8% in Chongqing, with Bishan District’s lithium battery exports reaching 1.25 billion yuan, led by FinDreams Battery.
In October 2024, Chongqing launched China’s first large-scale trial shipment of automotive lithium batteries by rail via ILSTC, setting the stage for future railway exports. Meanwhile, NEV exports soared 96.5%, with 60,000 electric vehicles shipped overseas.
New export sectors emerge as new growth drivers
While electronics and vehicles dominate Chongqing’s exports, agriculture and second-hand cars are emerging as new growth drivers.
For years, Chengkou County had little foreign trade, but in 2023, officials identified mushroom farming as a promising export sector. With low soil pollution and a growing agricultural base, Chengkou launched its first independent mushroom exports that year. By 2024, the county was exporting one ton of mushrooms weekly.
Chongqing’s agricultural exports grew by 39.8% in 2024, far surpassing the national average. The range of export products expanded from just a few in 2021 to over 20 varieties, including potatoes, cured meats, mushrooms, pomelos, crispy plums, and radishes.
Customs officers conduct routine inspections at a mushroom cultivation base in Chongqing's Chengkou County, ensuring the quality of raw materials for export. (Photo/Chongqing Customs)
Chongqing has also become a key player in second-hand car exports. While leading automakers like Changan Auto and Seres have well-established overseas channels, some markets remained untapped. Chongqing’s second-hand car exporters filled this gap, shipping over 10,000 used vehicles worth more than 200 million U.S. dollars in 2024.
Chongqing strengthens trade networks to expand global reach
Successful foreign trade requires not just strong products but also effective market access and distribution channels. Chongqing has expanded its global trade network through exhibitions, trade missions, and logistics upgrades.
A notable success comes from Dadukou District, home to Chongqing’s xiaomian (Chongqing noodles) industry. In September 2024, a local delegation joined the Malaysia International Agriculture Technology Exhibition, securing nearly 80 potential buyers and export deals worth 2.8 million yuan. Today, Chongqing’s xiaomian products are sold in over 30 countries and regions, with annual overseas sales exceeding 40 million yuan.
Chongqing has actively promoted global trade through over 100 trade exhibitions worldwide, supporting over 1,000 local companies in securing nearly 5 billion U.S. dollars in international orders. Infrastructure expansion via China-Europe Railway Express and ILSTC has further improved trade connectivity.
In 2024, Chongqing’s trade with ASEAN grew 13.8% to 117.79 billion yuan, reinforcing its position as the city’s largest trading partner. Trade with Belt and Road Initiative partner countries reached 326.38 billion yuan, up 0.8%.
(Yang Jun, a reporter from Chongqing Daily, contributed to this report's Chinese version.)