Zhejiang’s foreign trade in 2026: Earlier and more aggressive, expanding overseas markets.

“Compared to previous years, this year’s ‘departure’ came earlier and with greater momentum,” summarized Le Ning, Deputy Director of the Foreign Trade Development Division of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce, reflecting the efforts of foreign trade professionals under the severe circumstances. On January 6, the 2026 Zhejiang Province “Thousands of Delegations and Tens of Thousands of Enterprises Expanding Markets and Winning Orders” campaign was officially launched, organizing more than 2,000 delegations and mobilizing 20,000 enterprises to expand markets and secure orders overseas, supporting more than 100 key provincial exhibitions, with a target of hundreds of billions of yuan in intended orders. The earlier and stronger momentum is evident in the data from January this year, with the number of delegations sent overseas by Zhejiang Province increasing by nearly 20% compared to the same period in 2025. Shen Hui, Secretary-General of the Jiaxing Children’s Vehicle Association, stated that companies began preparing several days in advance for the toy fair opening in Hong Kong on January 12th. Facing challenges such as tariff wars, geopolitical conflicts, and shrinking demand, companies are well aware of the difficulties and need government support to proactively overcome them. From online and offline integration to emphasizing integrated domestic and foreign trade, the leather industry in Haining, Zhejiang, is a microcosm of the accelerated “going global” efforts of foreign trade enterprises this year. Fan Chen, Director of the Industrial Platform Management Office of Haining China Leather City Co., Ltd., stated that this is their first time organizing a delegation this year, and they will travel to Russia on February 18th to participate in an international apparel brand exhibition. Local leather garments have long been supplied to the domestic market at around 95%, and 2026 will be a crucial starting point for increasing exports. In addition to Russia, they also plan to participate in exhibitions in Dubai, France, Australia, South Korea, and other countries. By 2025, Zhejiang Province, through organizing enterprises to participate in overseas exhibitions and conduct trade negotiations, has reached intended orders exceeding 180 billion yuan. Customs data shows that in the first 11 months of 2025, the total value of imports and exports exceeded 5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.3%, with exports reaching 3.83 trillion yuan. The total value for the year is expected to exceed 4 trillion yuan, maintaining its position as the second largest importer and exporter in China. Fan Chen pointed out that Russia and Central Asian countries related to the Belt and Road Initiative are essential markets for leather clothing, and expanding overseas orders can release production capacity during the off-season for domestic sales from March to August each year. According to the plan, a foreign trade transit center will be established in Urumqi, Xinjiang in 2026, along with four overseas exhibition centers and warehouses in Moscow, Seoul, Dubai, and Cairo. Cao Yaoqiang, president of the Haining Home Textile Association in Zhejiang, will travel to Germany this weekend to attend the Frankfurt Home Textile Exhibition. In 2025, the overall output value of Haining’s home textile industry declined, but the transformed manufacturers fared well. The local government adjusted its positioning, diversified its product range, and capitalized on the rise of domestic fabric trends to increase added value. This year, the variety of products exhibited at overseas exhibitions will increase by 20%. However, Cao Yaoqiang also observed a trend of overseas protectionism towards domestic industries, putting Chinese companies under greater competitive pressure. Gu Ninglu, head of operations at the Jiaxing “Wool Sweater Party” platform, stated that in 2026, they will “go global” more frequently, doubling the number of exhibitions and organizing over 100 companies. The local wool sweater industry saw a 16.63% increase in exports in the first 10 months of last year, with companies placing greater emphasis on compliant trade. The government and platforms are helping companies reach overseas customers. Le Ning proposed that this year, Zhejiang Province will not only promote large-scale “going global” for enterprises but also attract high-quality “inbound” investment, deepening cooperation with internationally renowned exhibition organizations and attracting high-quality buyers to Zhejiang. For foreign trade professionals, facing a complex global economic and trade landscape, exploring diversified markets, expanding product categories, and investing in innovative business models such as cross-border e-commerce are clear directions. This year, Zhejiang Province is stabilizing traditional markets such as Europe, the United States, Japan, and South Korea, while also intensifying its efforts to explore emerging markets in ASEAN, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The province aims to cultivate and strengthen foreign trade entities, develop new business models, expand the export scale of high-tech products, and optimize enterprise services. Gu Ninglu believes that with stricter and more comprehensive domestic regulations and a challenging overseas environment, it is crucial to explore emerging markets, focusing on connecting with countries related to the Belt and Road Initiative. Enterprises also need to reduce costs and increase efficiency through technological innovation, control accounts receivable ratios in traditional industries, prioritize security, and undergo transformation and upgrading. Simultaneously, traditional industries should cultivate high-end talent and collaborate with universities to develop new products.