Hangzhou's foreign trade reached a new milestone in 2025, with total imports and exports hitting 906.95 billion yuan ($130.36 billion), up 6.1 percent year-on-year, according to local customs.

Exports totaled 646.7 billion yuan, rising 8.7 percent and ranking eighth among Chinese cities — one place higher than in 2024.

Export growth contributed significantly overall trade, accounting for 16.4 percent of Zhejiang province's total foreign trade. The rise was driven by expanding emerging markets, an optimized product mix, and strong momentum from cross-border e-commerce.

Exports to major emerging markets all increased. Shipments to Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa reached 61.46 billion yuan, 50.73 billion yuan, and 33.92 billion yuan, up 11.2 percent, 15.1 percent, and 17.9 percent, respectively. Exports to BRICS members and partner countries grew 9.0 percent to 177.73 billion yuan, while exports to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative climbed 14.1 percent to 320.72 billion yuan.

High-tech product exports totaled 100.11 billion yuan, up 9.9 percent and accounting for 15.5 percent of Hangzhou's total exports. Among them, the "new trio" — electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products — surged 49.9 percent to 25.57 billion yuan.

Cross-border e-commerce remained a major growth engine. Exports via customs platforms reached 75.87 billion yuan, up 30.6 percent and contributing 3 percentage points to overall export growth. At Hangzhou International Airport, cross-border e-commerce exports exceeded 209 million parcels, with cargo accounting for about 70 percent of total outbound shipments.

In 2025, Hangzhou recorded 20,425 active foreign trade firms, up 2,276 year-on-year. Notably, 271 national-level "little giant" specialized and innovative enterprises posted exports of 32.6 billion yuan, a sharp increase of 26.7 percent.