Ningbo, a pivotal port and manufacturing hub in Zhejiang, stands as one of China’s top foreign trade cities. In 2025, its total foreign trade volume reached 1.46 trillion RMB (US$204 billion) (+2.6% YoY), marking 10 consecutive years of growth. Exports hit 980.8 billion RMB (+3.7%), ranking 4th nationwide, while imports stood at 475.4 billion RMB (+0.2%). Powered by the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port (world’s busiest container port) and 31,500+ trading enterprises, it links to 234 countries, with private enterprises contributing 77.9% of total trade.
1. Traditional Advantage Industries (Stable Backbone)
These sectors anchor Ningbo’s exports, with complete industrial chains and global cost competitiveness.
⚙️ Electromechanical Products (Largest Export Pillar)
- 58.2% of total exports (570.6 billion RMB, +5.7%).
- Home appliances: Cixi is a global small home appliance hub (60% global market share).
- Auto parts: Core supplier for global automakers, with strong precision manufacturing.
- Hardware & tools: Yuyao and Zhenhai clusters dominate global mid-end markets.
🧵 Light Industry & Consumer Goods
- Textiles & apparel: Stable exports to EU, ASEAN, and Middle East.
- Stationery & gifts: Yuyao is a global stationery base, exporting to 150+ countries.
- Furniture & kitchenware: Cost-effective, with large OEM/ODM capacity.
🛠️ Precision Machinery & Components
- Sewing machine parts: 90% global market share for rotary hooks.
- Optical lenses: 1/3 of Android smartphone lenses made in Ningbo.
- Cutting wires: 40% global share for high-precision machine tools.
2. Emerging Industries (New Growth Engines)
Fast-growing, high-value sectors driving trade upgrading, led by green and tech products.
🔋 “New Three” Strategic Products (Explosive Growth)
- Total exports: 385.1 billion RMB (+76.3% YoY).
- Electric vehicles (EVs): 205.1 billion RMB (+295.1%)—the fastest-growing export segment.
- Lithium batteries: 111.5 billion RMB (+11.6%), supporting global EV and energy storage demand.
- PV products: 68.5 billion RMB (+28.1%), benefiting from global renewable energy demand.
🤖 High-Tech & Intelligent Manufacturing
- Industrial robots: Output surged 113% YoY, with strong domestic and export demand.
- Electronic components: +75% YoY growth, serving global consumer electronics and EV supply chains.
- Integrated circuits: +10.6% YoY growth, advancing semiconductor self-reliance.
📦 Cross-Border E-Commerce (Digital Trade Leader)
- 20,000+ operators, 29 industrial parks, and 59.9 billion RMB in exports (top in China).
- Ecosystem: “Port + Manufacturing + E-commerce” enables direct global sales for SMEs.
- Key markets: ASEAN, Europe, and North America, with fast growth in cross-border B2C.
3. Trade Partners & Growth Drivers
- Top markets: EU (251.1 billion RMB, +5.1%), ASEAN (216.2 billion RMB, +15.2%), and Belt & Road countries (741.3 billion RMB, +8.8%).
- Private enterprises: 29,000 firms, 77.9% of trade, driving resilience and innovation.
- Port advantage: Ningbo-Zhoushan Port handles 2.67 trillion RMB in cargo, ensuring low-cost, efficient logistics.
4. Outlook
Ningbo’s foreign trade is shifting from scale-driven to quality-driven growth. Traditional industries are upgrading with smart manufacturing, while emerging sectors like EVs, batteries, and cross-border e-commerce are leading expansion. With its world-class port, complete industrial chains, and vibrant private sector, Ningbo will remain a key gateway for China’s high-standard opening-up.