In 2026, Hunan's foreign trade got off to a strong start, achieving a "good start" amid a complex and challenging external environment.

On April 17, the Changsha Customs Authority held a press conference on Hunan's import and export during the first quarter of 2026. In the first three months, the province's total imports and exports amounted to 144.21 billion CNY, a year-on-year increase of 16.6%, with exports growing 6.3% to 80.73 billion CNY and imports up 32.8% to 63.48 billion CNY.

How was the 16.6%-growth achieved? The answer lies first in product innovation.

Hunan's exported products are transforming towards innovation-driven and intelligent technologies. In the first quarter, the province exported 47.17 billion CNY of mechanical and electrical products, an increase of 16.6%, driving overall export growth by 8.8 percentage points and raising its share of total exports to 58.4%. Among them, the "new three" products—electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products—have made impressive contributions.

At a production workshop of the Hunan Hame Technology Co., Ltd., a national high-tech enterprise, intelligent production lines are operating at high speed. "In such areas as lithium-ion batteries and polymer batteries, our self-owned brand is very popular in overseas markets," said Mao Jingjing, a staff member of the company's production department. So far, the company has secured orders through May, with its products exported to 28 countries and regions, including Europe, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

The data demonstrated the export momentum. In the first quarter, Hunan's exports of lithium batteries reached 2.28 billion CNY, an increase of 63%; exports of electric vehicles totaled 26,000 units, up 106.7%.

"We just secured an order worth six million CNY at an agricultural exhibition in Belgium," said the spokesperson of Hunan Xiushentang Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a company established only four years ago. Its export value in the first quarter of this year grew by over 40% year on year, with its products such as honey pomelo tea and pomelo juice exported to the European market.

The number of foreign trade enterprises across Hunan Province has been steadily increasing, while their vitality continuing to rise. Data shows that in the first quarter, the province had 6,837 enterprises with actual import and export performance, 1,186 more than that in the same period last year. Among them, private enterprises achieved imports and exports of 115.96 billion CNY, up 23.1% and accounting for over 80% of the province's total foreign trade value.

Hunan's foreign trade sector has been continuously expanding the international market layout, with the expansion in both traditional and emerging markets growing relatively rapid. In the first quarter, Hunan's imports and exports to Hong Kong SAR, the EU, and the UK reached 17.63 billion CNY, 14.41 billion CNY, and 1.19 billion CNY respectively, growing by 39.5%, 44.5%, and 32.7%. Imports and exports to the Belt and Road countries reached 84.61 billion CNY, up 16.1% and accounting for about 60% of the provincial total.

Another highlight of Hunan's foreign trade lies in its trade with Africa.

Tariff concessions bring tangible dividends. Since December 1, 2024, China has granted zero-tariff treatment to 33 least developed countries in Africa with which it has diplomatic relations on 100 percent of their products. As of the first quarter this year, the Changsha Customs Authority had granted a total of 26.9789 million CNY in tariff concessions for the products imported from the above-mentioned countries into Hunan. Driven by these preferential policies, Hunan's imports from Africa reached 7.04 billion CNY in the first quarter, rising 21.9%.

Beginning from May 1, China will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for all 53 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China. At present, the main source countries of Hunan's imports from Africa include Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, all of which are not classified as the least developed countries. This means that as the coverage of the zero-tariff treatment expands, Hunan's imports from Africa are expected to see a new round of growth.

In recent years, more and more African specialty products have entered Hunan market, such as fresh pineapples from Benin, coffee beans from Ethiopia, and cocoa beans from Uganda. After May 1, more products such as macadamia nuts from South Africa and fresh avocados from Kenya are expected to accelerate their entry into Hunan, providing richer choices for consumers.

"Hunan's imports and exports, as a whole, have shown a stable foundation, multiple advantages, and strong resilience in the first quarter of 2026, with its foreign trade potential continuously being unleashed," said Lan Shengbin, deputy director of the Changsha Customs Authority. He added that the growth momentum is expected to continue into the second quarter, building up a head of steam to achieve the annual growth goals.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.  

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn