On March 10, the General Administration of Customs released the latest report on goods trade imports and exports. In U.S. dollar terms, China's export value for January-February 2026 increased by 21.8% year-on-year. This export growth rate not only far exceeded Bloomberg's forecast of 7.2% (cumulative for January-February) but also set a new record high in nearly 59 months, declaring with solid data: China's foreign trade resilience is fully charged, and the foreign trade sector is comprehensively recovering in 2026.

   Diversification Strategy Yields Results   

       According to customs statistics, the total value of China's imports and exports for January-February 2026 reached USD 1,099.54 billion, a year-on-year increase of 21%. Among this, cumulative exports for January-February totaled USD 656.578 billion, up 21.8% year-on-year; cumulative imports reached USD 442.96 billion, up 19.8% year-on-year, achieving a trade surplus of USD 213.618 billion.

       From a market布局 (layout) perspective, China's foreign trade has long broken free from the limitations of traditional European and American markets. Emerging markets such as ASEAN, Africa, and countries along the "Belt and Road" have become new engines of growth.

       In the first two months of 2025, the top three trading partners (regions) by trade value for China were:

• ASEAN: Total trade value of USD 176.55 billion, up 22.9% year-on-year, with exports reaching USD 112.626 billion, up 29.4% year-on-year. ASEAN maintained its position as China's largest trading region.

• EU: Total trade value of USD 142.241 billion, up 22.7% year-on-year, with exports reaching USD 100.996 billion, up 27.8% year-on-year, ranking second only to ASEAN.

• USA: Total trade value of USD 86.644 billion, down 15.1% year-on-year, with exports reaching USD 67.241 billion, down 11.0% year-on-year, ranking third.

       It is noteworthy that the trade value with countries and regions participating in the "Belt and Road" Initiative reached USD 571.861 billion in the first two months, a year-on-year increase of 22.7%, significantly outpacing the overall foreign trade growth rate. Among this, exports totaled USD 336.641 billion, up 28.5% year-on-year, accounting for more than half of the national total export value, demonstrating strong cooperative resilience and growth potential.

       In terms of growth rates, demand in emerging markets was robust during January-February.

• China's exports to Africa reached USD 42.776 billion, up 49.9% year-on-year. Specifically, exports to South Africa were USD 4.214 billion, up 40.8% year-on-year.

• Exports to Latin America reached USD 49.298 billion, up 16.4% year-on-year. Specifically, exports to Brazil were USD 12.808 billion, up 24.2% year-on-year.

• Southeast Asian markets continued to show strength. Exports to Singapore reached USD 13.533 billion, up 38.8% year-on-year; exports to Thailand reached USD 18.888 billion, up 35.6% year-on-year; exports to Malaysia reached USD 18.665 billion, up 32.1% year-on-year.

• Exports to the Russian and Indian markets also performed remarkably, with year-on-year increases of 22.7% and 20.0%, respectively.

       The implementation of a diversified foreign trade布局 (strategy) has not only completely broken the dilemma of dependence on a single market but also achieved simultaneous recovery in both traditional and emerging markets. The relevant data直观地 (directly) confirms this effectiveness.

   Comprehensive Structural Upgrading   

       If diversification represents the breadth of foreign trade development, then industrial structure upgrading embodies the depth that ensures China's foreign trade remains stable and reaches far.

       The surge in exports at the beginning of 2026 is by no means a simple quantitative rebound but the inevitable result of "Made in China" ascending to the higher end of the global value chain, an eruption of core competitiveness brought about by industrial upgrading.

       Once, we seized markets with cost-effectiveness; now, we win global respect through technological innovation and brand value. Amidst the transformative wave from "Made in China" to "Intelligently Made in China," high-tech products such as new energy vehicles, high-end equipment, and intelligent terminals have become the new engines of export growth.

       In the first two months, the top three key export commodities were:

• Exports of mechanical and electrical products: USD 410.909 billion, up 27.1% year-on-year. Among subcategories, except for mobile phones, all others achieved double-digit growth.

• Exports of high-tech products: USD 167.23 billion, up 26.9% year-on-year.

• Exports of textile yarn, fabrics, and products thereof: USD 25.574 billion, up 20.5% year-on-year.

According to growth rates, high-end manufacturing boomed in January-February. Compared to the same period in 2025, exports of integrated circuits, automobiles, and ships in the first two months of 2026 "soared":

• Integrated circuits: Exports reached USD 43.324 billion, up 72.6% year-on-year.

• Automobiles (including chassis): Exports reached USD 26.977 billion, up 67.1% year-on-year.

• Ships: Exports reached USD 10.597 billion, up 52.8% year-on-year.

Furthermore, traditional advantageous categories all maintained year-on-year growth rates exceeding 20%, demonstrating strong resilience.

• Ceramic products: Exports reached USD 3.839 billion, up 29.6% year-on-year.

• Plastic products: Exports reached USD 19.044 billion, up 25.7% year-on-year.

• Furniture and parts thereof: Exports reached USD 12.444 billion, up 24.7% year-on-year.

The continued popularity of these "high-value" products, along with the significant achievements in upgrading the foreign trade structure, confirms that high-tech, high-value-added products have become the core engine driving export growth. This not only helps "Made in China" shed its cheap label but also firmly secures a high-value position in the global industrial chain, showcasing the strong resilience and immense potential of the Chinese economy on the path to high-quality development.

   Shattering Pessimistic Narratives   

       The foreign trade industry experiences ups and downs, always accompanied by some dissonant voices: "Foreign trade is failing," "Orders are decreasing," "Made in China has lost its advantage"... Such pessimistic rhetoric once led many in the foreign trade sector into self-doubt.

       However, this better-than-expected report card at the start of 2026, backed by official data, provides the strongest rebuttal, shattering all unsubstantiated doubts and declaring to the world: China's foreign trade has not declined; instead, it demonstrates stronger resilience, greater potential, and broader prospects!

For those engaged in foreign trade, abandoning anxiety and confusion and steadfastly staying the course in the foreign trade sector is the way to seize opportunities from the recovery and expand market share.

       The start of foreign trade in 2026 is impressive, with a diversified布局 (strategy) serving as a key support pillar.

       The vast community of foreign trade practitioners need only follow the general development trend, deeply cultivate their products, and actively secure orders. By doing so, they will surely ride the momentum, achieve outstanding results in the global trade浪潮 (wave), and make new breakthroughs in performance!