Xinjiang’s Foreign Trade Surges to Record High in First Three Quarters
URUMQI – Xinjiang’s total import and export value reached nearly 400 billion yuan in the first three quarters of the year, marking a historic high for the same period, according to data released by Urumqi Customs. This growth signals a balanced development pattern for the region’s foreign trade, with increasing contributions from prefectures and cities like Aksu and Changji.
Trade with Central asian nations remains dominant, with import and export value totaling 215.73 billion yuan - 54.9% of Xinjiang’s total foreign trade. Trade with countries participating in the “Belt and Road” initiative reached 341.49 billion yuan,a 14.2% year-on-year increase, representing 86.9% of the total. Significant growth was also observed with RCEP member states (98.5% increase to 57.41 billion yuan) and ASEAN (99.2% increase to 48.8 billion yuan), and also with Africa (149.1% increase), West Asia (102.4% increase), and Latin America (107% increase).
Private enterprises are driving this expansion, with 3,791 companies engaged in import and export activities – a 23.7% increase year-on-year. Of these, 3,629 are private enterprises, up 23.3% from the previous year. Private enterprises accounted for 93.5% of Xinjiang’s total foreign trade value and contributed 98% of the overall growth. Exports of “three new products” by these firms reached 4.68 billion yuan, a 41.9% increase.
The China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone is playing a key role, accounting for 39.5% of Xinjiang’s foreign trade, with 27 of the 62 pilot customs reform experiences released by the State Council already implemented in the region, alongside 5 provincial-level institutional innovations.
“The customs will focus on the construction of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, improve regulatory efficiency and service levels, smooth the Asia-Europe channel, cultivate industrial clusters, and protect the development of enterprises,” stated Li Qinghua, member of the Party Committee and Deputy Commissioner of Urumqi Customs, ”so as to inject stronger impetus into the high-quality development of Xinjiang’s foreign trade.”
[责任编辑：刘芳]
