Tianjin's Q1 Exports Hit Record High

A report from en.tj.gov.cn Apr. 21th, 2026：

Tianjin recorded a strong start to the year, with foreign trade expanding steadily and exports reaching a historic high in the first quarter, according to Tianjin Customs.

Total imports and exports rose 4.9 percent year on year to 193.52 billion yuan ($28.39 billion). Exports alone surged 16.3 percent to 108.01 billion yuan, marking the highest level for the same period on record.

Private enterprises played a leading role in this growth. Their total trade value reached 89.43 billion yuan, up 6.1 percent and accounting for 46.2 percent of the city's total. State-owned enterprises also posted solid gains, with trade increasing 16 percent, while foreign-invested firms maintained steady growth, up 1.5 percent year-on-year.

Trade with Belt and Road partner countries remained a key growth driver. Tianjin's trade with these markets climbed 14.4 percent to 96.18 billion yuan. Trade with ASEAN, Brazil and Central Asian countries saw particularly rapid growth, up 10.7 percent, 36.6 percent, and 75.4 percent, respectively.

Exports were powered by a diverse mix of goods. Mechanical and electrical products dominated, making up over two-thirds of total exports. Among them, the "new trio" — lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles and photovoltaic products, nearly doubled in export value. Meanwhile, ships and aircraft exports also posted robust increases, alongside steady growth in labor-intensive goods and pharmaceutical products.