As the new year begins, numerous foreign trade companies are seizing opportunities to expand into new markets, explore innovative business models, and develop new productsThanks to a range of governmental supports and collaborations, these enterprises are gearing up to cultivate fresh momentum for foreign trade amidst evolving economic landscapes.

On January 6th, within the bustling workshop of Shandong Zhengtai Cable Co., Ltdlocated in the Hezhuang Town of Laiwu District, Jinan City, machines roared to life as workers diligently prepared a significant order destined for Europe and the United States worth several million yuan"At the start of the year, we have already received numerous overseas orders," said Zhang Huawen, the company's deputy managerHe credited the steady growth of the foreign market to their ongoing upgrades in equipment and technology, which have helped them establish a well-rounded production line for cables.

Meanwhile, at the Guangzhou International Port, the sound of a train horn signaled the departure of the X8120 freight service, carrying an assortment of appliances, LED lights, and footwear

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This marked the first Central European freight train dispatched from the port this year, embarking on a journey of roughly 10,000 kilometers expected to take around 15 days to Europe.

As the Spring Festival approaches, the volume of business at Guangzhou International Port is anticipated to spikeYe Jing, deputy director of the Customs Regulatory Section at Guangzhou Station, noted that freight orders for the Central European trains have already been scheduled through the holiday period.

Behind the steady flow of overseas orders lies the proactive efforts of foreign trade companies to expand their market reachIn the first eleven months of 2024, China's total import and export value for goods totaled 39.79 trillion yuan, marking a 4.9% increase year-on-yearExperts highlight that Chinese foreign trade enterprises are embracing innovative development approaches, leading to enhanced quality and stable quantity in international trade

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Wen Bin, chief economist of China Minsheng Bank, noted that China's exports have seen a rebound against the odds, with an expected growth rate of 5.5% for the entirety of 2024, indicating a steady increase in the global export share and further solidifying its status as a trade giant.

Emerging business models such as cross-border e-commerce, overseas warehouses, and market procurement have gained robust traction in recent yearsFor instance, in the first three quarters of 2024, China's cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reached 1.88 trillion yuan, reflecting an impressive year-on-year growth of 11.5%. As the global trade environment becomes increasingly uncertain, more enterprises are opting to "go overseas" via cross-border e-commerce, thus accelerating the cultivation of new momentum in foreign trade.

On the morning of January 1st, three container trucks loaded with 46 tractors drove out of the gates of Shandong Jindafeng Machinery Co., Ltd

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These goods are set to travel over land to Qingdao Port before embarking on their maritime journey destined for KenyaA representative from the company indicated their plans to leverage cross-border e-commerce platforms such as "Yiying Overseas" as a vital bridge connecting them to international markets, asserting their commitment to harness opportunities from these platforms and to secure new orders in the coming yearAdditionally, Cang Warehouse, which specializes in cross-border e-commerce logistics, is set to open a new warehouse in Seattle in 2025 and plans further expansions in the U.S., including nearly 30,000 square meters in Chicago.

Wen Bin emphasized that innovative formats like cross-border e-commerce, overseas warehouses, market procurement, and bonded maintenance are becoming significant driving forces behind China’s foreign trade growth

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Overseas warehouses, in particular, are crucial nodes in cross-border e-commerce, gradually evolving from mere storage to providing comprehensive services that include exhibiting, after-sales support, and repairsCurrently, China has established over 2,500 overseas warehouses spanning more than 30 million square meters.

Notably, foreign trade enterprises are not only focusing on new business models but are also advancing their smart transformation and upgrading their production frameworks to optimize the structure of foreign trade productsStepping into the smart workshop of China National Heavy Duty Truck Group’s Laiwu factory, one can observe steel plates seamlessly transforming into the front ends of "New Yellow River" heavy trucks along automated assembly linesThe Laiwu factory has significantly shortened its order delivery cycle by 14% by creating a smart manufacturing platform

In 2024, the company anticipates selling 370,000 complete vehicles, including 135,000 heavy trucks for export, achieving historical sales records.

"We are accelerating our intelligent transformation, which not only enhances efficiency but also continuously optimizes our product structure, gaining recognition in the international marketThe number of vehicles we produce in a year can be lined up from Jinan to Shanghai," remarked Lu Tao, a key supervisor at the Laiwu factory of China National Heavy Duty Truck Group.

2025 marks a pivotal year for the "14th Five-Year Plan." The Central Economic Work Conference in 2024 outlined strategies to expand high-level foreign openness and stabilize trade and foreign investmentsAt the onset of the new year, local governments have been proactive in fostering innovative market exploration by organizing exhibitions and building platforms to facilitate smooth trading interactions for businesses.

For instance, Wenzhou initiated the 2025 "Hundred Teams and Thousand Enterprises Going Overseas to Expand Markets and Increase Orders" campaign, while Shandong launched the "10,000 Enterprises Going Overseas – Global Trade from Shandong" initiative

Moreover, Guangzhou held the first trade promotion event of 2025 under the theme "Quality Products from Guangzhou for Global Trade." These concerted efforts from various regions aim to enhance support for companies looking to "go abroad," encouraging them to confidently take on orders and secure new deals, ensuring every possible avenue to capture overseas opportunities.

Amidst the global trade environment filled with uncertainties, China is playing a crucial role in providing robust support for development through close trade partnerships with various countries, contributing significantly to the global economic recoveryIn 2025, China will further drive foreign trade to stabilize its scale and optimize its structure to achieve the objective of qualitative improvements and quantitative stability, according to researcher Zhou Mi from the Ministry of Commerce Research Institute.