Amid frequent geopolitical disruptions and mounting pressure on the stability of energy supplies in many countries, nations are placing greater emphasis on energy autonomy and security, and are continuously increasing their procurement of energy storage equipment and investments in energy storage projects. In the first quarter of 2026, China's energy storage industry bucked the traditional off-season trend and experienced explosive growth in exports. The export value of lithium-ion batteries — one of the most critical components of energy storage equipment — surged more than 50% year-on-year.

At a fruit logistics center in Pingxiang near the Friendship Pass, a key gateway for ASEAN produce in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the recent May Day holiday saw tourists and wholesalers crowding around neatly stacked durians, lured by the promise of fresher taste and hard-to-beat prices.

RMB Exchange Rate Surges Again! Offshore RMB Breaks Above 6.8 Against the US Dollar, Hitting a 3-Year High

U.S. import compliance is being further tightened. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, a new electronic filing rule covering hundreds of product categories is set to take effect. Shippers and freight forwarders on the U.S. trade lane who are inadequately prepared may face increased inspection rates and customs clearance delays.

The situation in the Middle East remains highly volatile, and a number of shipping lines have recently announced the suspension of their services. This is neither the first time they have scaled back operations, nor is it likely to be the last. With the Bab el-Mandeb Strait constantly at risk of closure and the Strait of Hormuz experiencing repeated disruptions, the two key shipping arteries — the Red Sea and the Middle East routes — are being gradually squeezed.May 10 will mark a turning point. Hapag-Lloyd has announced that its JD2 and JD3 services will be temporarily suspended effective that date, with no resumption date announced.

In 2025, against a backdrop of a complex and severe global trade situation, China's foreign trade maintained a steady growth trajectory, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality.
Total trade value reached 6,358.79billion(approx.6,358.79billion(approx.6.36 trillion), with a year-on-year growth rate of +3.1%.

On April 21, the H-beam production line of Baowu Masteel Co., Ltd. overcame industry technical challenges, successfully rolling out the world's thickest and heaviest hot-rolled H-beam. The newly produced hot-rolled section has a flange thickness of 165 mm and a weight of 1,509 kg per meter, making it the current global leader in both thickness and weight. Masteel has thus become the only company in the world capable of supplying products of this specification, further solidifying China's leading position in the global steel industry.

Driven by rising international crude oil prices and sustained high costs of bulk raw materials, multiple industries—including waterproofing materials, coatings, and even furniture—have recently issued a flurry of price hike notices.

Driven by the surge in global AI computing power demand and a wave of memory chip price increases, China's integrated circuit exports have reached a historic high. In the first quarter of 2026, China's exports of "other integrated circuits used as memories" totaled $17.379 billion, accounting for 5.41% of the nation's total export value, becoming one of the core engines driving foreign trade growth.

The textile industry is one of the pillars of Turkey's national economy. In earlier years, leveraging its geographical proximity to the European Union and a complete industrial chain ranging from raw materials to finished garments, Turkey competed fiercely with China's textile industry. Currently, Turkey is the world's 6th largest producer and exporter of textiles and apparel, and the 3rd largest source of imports for the EU. However, since last year, affected by weak external demand, rising costs, and intensified competition from Asia, the Turkish textile industry has been experiencing its most severe downturn in 20 years. In 2025 alone, over 300 enterprises filed for bankruptcy, and more than 300,000 jobs were lost.