In 2023, my country’s foreign trade import and export exceeded expectations, with the scale of foreign trade hitting a new high in December. According to the State Council Information Office, the total import and export value of my country’s goods trade in 2023 amounted to 41.76 trillion yuan, achieving the goal of promoting stability and improving quality.
Customs statistics revealed that despite a modest year-on-year increase of 0.2%, the total import and export value of goods trade in 2023 demonstrated positive trends. Exports amounted to 23.77 trillion yuan, marking a 0.6% increase, while imports totaled 17.99 trillion yuan, showing a slight decrease of 0.3%.
Notably, the import and export volume with countries co-building the “Belt and Road” increased by 2.8% in 2023, accounting for 46.6% of the total import and export value. Additionally, both imports and exports to the EU and the United States experienced growth in the fourth quarter, reaching 5.51 trillion yuan and 4.67 trillion yuan, respectively.
The export momentum in 2023 was particularly strong, with the export of “three new” products—electric passenger vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar cells—reaching a total of 1.06 trillion yuan, surpassing the trillion mark for the first time.
Furthermore, high-level opening up initiatives and the development of new platforms and business formats contributed to the positive foreign trade figures. The number of free trade pilot zones in the country expanded to 22, with a total import and export volume of 7.67 trillion yuan, an increase of 2.7%. The Hainan Free Trade Port also maintained double-digit growth for the third consecutive year, while cross-border e-commerce import and export volume amounted to 2.38 trillion yuan, recording a 15.6% increase.
Overall, the achievements in foreign trade for 2023 indicate a positive trajectory for the country’s import and export market, with notable growth and expansion across various sectors and regions.