Liangjiang sees robust foreign trade growth in H1

Liangjiang New Area recorded a robust performance in foreign trade during the first half of this year, with total imports and exports reaching 142.2 billion yuan ($19.8 billion), a 15.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Automobiles and laptops continue to be primary export drivers, with the laptop industry bucking global trends by achieving growth, while processing trade companies such as Wistron reported combined imports and exports of approximately 49.4 billion yuan from January to June, a 17 percent year-on-year increase.

Automotive companies such as Changan Automobile and Livan declared the export of 26,400 vehicles through Guoyuan Port in the first half of the year, a 25 percent rise. The total cargo value reached 2.41 billion yuan, an increase of 24 percent.

Deng Ke, director of the Liangjiang modern service industry bureau, said that several policies have been introduced to enhance and expand foreign trade, facilitating smoother international market access for enterprises.

One significant initiative is the Chongqing International Trade Digital Platform, which streamlines critical processes such as customs clearance, logistics, finance, and tax rebates, providing a "one-stop" service for international trade.

This platform enables companies to achieve "one login, one verification, and one submission." Over 250 enterprises and third-party service organizations have joined the platform, contributing an additional trade value of 35 billion yuan in the first half of the year.

Chongqing Shengxi Trading Co is one of the platform’s beneficiaries. The company's leader noted that processes that previously took four to five days can now be completed in just one day, reducing costs by about 20 percent.

Multiple outbound and cross-border channels have also laid a solid foundation for the strong growth of Liangjiang's foreign trade, with Guoyuan Port becoming a "world transit station” supported by the Western Land-Sea New Corridor trains and the Shanghai-Chongqing Direct Express Line.

In the first half of the year, 503 trains operated along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a 5.1 percent increase. The Shanghai-Chongqing Direct Express Line recorded 647 sailings, transporting 204,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), up by 22.1 percent and 31.6 percent, respectively.