In 2025, Guangdong's total imports and exports reached 9.49 trillion yuan, up 4.4% year on year and marking a record annual high. Guangdong sustained its export scale and market openness, with exports totaling 6.03 trillion yuan, up 2.5%, while imports reached 3.46 trillion yuan, up 7.8%.
Guangdong remains an important gateway for foreign trade in southern China. The province accounted for 20.9% of China's total foreign trade, up 0.1 percentage points from the previous year, ranking first nationwide among all provinces for the 40th consecutive year. Guangdong contributed 24.1% to the country's overall foreign trade growth.
In 2025, Guangdong goods reached global markets with more high-tech and intelligent products. The exports of mechanical and electrical products reached 4.15 trillion yuan, up 7.3%, accounting for 68.7% of total exports, an increase of 3.1 percentage points. Exports of electronic components, electrical equipment, and computers and parts rose by 20%, 16.8%, and 9.9%, respectively. Exports of green and intelligent products such as drones, 3D printers, and industrial robots surged by 40.9%, 37.1%, and 33.9%, reflecting a clear trend toward high-end, intelligent, and green development. The year-long "Guangdong goods global reach" campaign will further help Guangdong-made products expand into overseas markets in 2026.
Although the global trade environment is complex and volatile, corporate vitality continues to rise, and foreign investment has steadily recovered in the province. In 2025, imports and exports by foreign-invested enterprises totaled 3.03 trillion yuan, up 6.5%. Guangdong recorded 172,000 enterprises with import-export activities, up 17.6%. Among them, 148,000 were private firms, up 20%, with a total trade of 6.07 trillion yuan, up 4.9%, accounting for 63.9% of the province's foreign trade, an increase of 0.3 percentage points.
In 2025, Guangdong's trade with its top three partners, ASEAN, Hong Kong SAR of China, and the European Union, reached 1.53 trillion yuan, 1.28 trillion yuan, and 1.13 trillion yuan, up 5.8%, 12.5%, and 8.4% respectively. Trade with emerging markets such as the five Central Asian countries, Africa, and the Middle East grew by 23.6%, 10.7%, and 8.5%. Trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative totaled 3.66 trillion yuan, up 5%, accounting for 38.5% of Guangdong's total trade, 0.2 percentage points higher year on year.
Domestic demand has been effectively unleashed, reinforcing Guangdong's position as a vibrant and dynamic market. In 2025, Guangdong imported integrated circuits worth 1.3 trillion yuan, up 15.5%, accounting for 37.5% of total imports. Imports of computers and parts reached 351.9 billion yuan, up 19.3%, while imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment rose to 73.68 billion yuan, up 33.2%.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | Guangdong Sub-administration of GACC
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
