Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang and a core digital & manufacturing hub in the Yangtze River Delta, stands out as a dynamic foreign trade powerhouse. In 2025, its total foreign trade volume reached 906.95 billion RMB (US$127 billion) (+6.1% YoY), with exports at 646.7 billion RMB (+8.7%)—ranking 8th nationwide—and imports at 260.25 billion RMB (+0.2%). Private enterprises dominate, contributing 77% of exports, while the Belt and Road markets drive 320.72 billion RMB in exports (+14.1% YoY).
1. Traditional Advantage Industries (Stable Backbone)
These sectors anchor Hangzhou’s exports with deep industrial chains and global brand recognition.
🧵 Textiles & Silk (Time-Honored Legacy)
- Silk: A world-renowned symbol of Hangzhou, with Wansili and other brands leading global silk textile exports.
- Garments & home textiles: Large OEM/ODM capacity, stable exports to EU, ASEAN, and the Middle East.
⚙️ Electromechanical Products (Largest Export Pillar)
- 310.7 billion RMB in exports (+10.9% YoY), accounting for ~48% of total exports.
- Smart home appliances: Complete supply chains for kitchenware, small home appliances, and consumer electronics.
- General machinery: Forklifts (Hangcha Group), pumps, and industrial equipment with strong global market share.
- Hardware & tools: Cost-effective, high-quality products for construction and manufacturing.
🎨 Light Industry & Consumer Goods
- Stationery & gifts: Diversified, affordable products for global office and gift markets.
- Furniture & kitchenware: Strong OEM/ODM capabilities, popular in North America and Europe.
- Food & tea: Longjing tea and specialty foods with growing global demand.
2. Emerging Industries (New Growth Engines)
High-tech, green, and digital sectors are driving trade upgrading, led by “New Three” products and digital trade.
🔋 “New Three” Green Products (Explosive Growth)
- 25.57 billion RMB in exports (+49.9% YoY).
- Electric vehicles (EVs): Leapmotor and other brands; output surged 383% YoY.
- Lithium batteries: High-performance batteries for EVs and energy storage.
- PV products: Solar panels and components benefiting from global renewable demand.
🤖 Smart Manufacturing & High-Tech Products
- High-tech exports: 100.11 billion RMB (+9.9% YoY), 15.5% of total exports.
- Vision AI & IoT: Hikvision (global leader in video surveillance) and smart sensor manufacturers.
- Industrial robots: Output up 38.6% YoY; strong demand from global manufacturing.
- Integrated circuits & semiconductors: Fast-growing, supported by “296X” advanced manufacturing cluster.
📱 Digital Economy & Cross-Border E-Commerce (Global Leader)
- 63,000+ cross-border e-commerce sellers, with exports ranking top in China.
- Ecosystem: “Digital platform + manufacturing + cross-border logistics” powered by Alibaba.
- Key products: Pet supplies, outdoor gear, and smart consumer electronics via B2C platforms.
- Digital services: Cloud computing (Alibaba Cloud), software, and digital content exports growing rapidly.
💊 Biopharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
- Industrial scale over 200 billion RMB; complete R&D-to-production chain.
- Innovative drugs: Anti-cancer drugs (Betta Pharma) with global sales.
- Medical devices: High-end diagnostic equipment and consumables exported to 30+ countries.
3. Trade Partners & Growth Drivers
- Top markets: Belt and Road countries (320.72 billion RMB, +14.1%), ASEAN, EU, and Latin America.
- Private enterprises: 77% of exports, driving resilience and innovation.
- Digital trade advantage: Cross-border e-commerce and digital services reduce trade barriers for SMEs.
4. Outlook
Hangzhou’s foreign trade is shifting from scale expansion to quality-driven growth. Traditional industries are upgrading with smart manufacturing, while emerging sectors like EVs, AI, and cross-border e-commerce lead expansion. With its digital ecosystem, advanced manufacturing clusters, and vibrant private sector, Hangzhou will remain a key gateway for China’s high-standard opening-up.