Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Anhui's total import and export value of goods trade has expanded by three consecutive 100-billion-yuan increments, rising from 545.15 billion yuan at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period to 864.37 billion yuan in 2024, with an average annual growth rate of 12.2%. This growth rate is 4.2 percentage points higher than the national average and ranks first in the Yangtze River Delta region.

The data reflects a robust leap in the scale of Anhui's foreign trade and strong growth momentum, showcasing a remarkable performance.

In the first three quarters, Anhui's total foreign trade import and export value reached 726.25 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.7%. The province's national ranking in foreign trade value jumped from 13th to 9th place.

By focusing on targeted policy support and industrial services, Anhui has continuously stimulated innovation and vitality among market entities, optimized its foreign trade structure, and maintained a steady and positive development trend, demonstrating strong resilience and dynamism.

Anhui has implemented "one chain, one policy" measures to enhance the quality and upgrading of emerging industries such as new energy vehicles, new materials, advanced photovoltaics and new energy storage, electronic information, and high-end equipment manufacturing. In the first half of this year, the province ranked first in the country in terms of automobile production, new energy vehicle production, and automobile exports.

Currently, 10% of the world's display panels, 50% of China's photovoltaic glass, 20% of its photovoltaic modules, and 15% of its home appliances are produced in Anhui. As the province's industrial chains progressively move up to the mid-to-high-end segment, the quality, grade, and added value of its export products have correspondingly improved.

Foreign trade statistics show that since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Anhui has exported 55.63 billion yuan worth of flat-panel display modules and 84.84 billion yuan worth of integrated circuits, representing year-on-year increases of 110% and 990%, respectively. The proportion of electromechanical products in the province's total export value has risen from 59% at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period to over 70%. During the same period, the share of labor-intensive products in total exports has declined to less than 10%. The number of enterprises with actual import and export performance has reached 13,000, an increase of nearly 4,000 compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period.

Since the launch of the 14th Five-Year Plan, Anhui has focused on building a multi-dimensional international logistics corridor integrating "shipping, rail, and air transport," helping foreign trade achieve "accelerated growth."  

In water transport, Anhui has actively promoted the integration of its ports into the Yangtze River Delta's world-class port cluster. The "coordinated unloading" customs model has been fully implemented across all water transport ports in the province, reducing transshipment time by 50% and inland transportation costs by 30% for enterprises.

In air transport, Anhui has continuously enhanced the capacity of its logistics hubs, vigorously supporting the construction of the Hefei International Air Cargo Distribution Center and the Wuhu Specialized Air Cargo Hub. The province has now cumulatively launched over 20 international air routes, connecting major economic and trade hubs across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the annual average growth of cargo throughput at Hefei Xinqiao Airport Port has exceeded 16%, with this year's volume projected to reach 40,000 metric tons. At Wuhu Xuanzhou Airport, cargo volume has already surpassed 10,000 metric tons this year.

In land transport, Anhui has fully promoted the "Railway Express Clearance" model for China-Europe freight train services, reducing transit time by 1–2 days and cutting enterprise logistics costs by 30%. The cumulative number of China-Europe freight train trips from Anhui has reached 4,029. Among these, Hefei’s China-Europe freight train has launched international routes covering 177 stations in 20 countries.

In the first three quarters of this year, Anhui's total trade value with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative reached 391.94 billion yuan, accounting for 54% of the province's total trade—an increase of 8 percentage points compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. Imports and exports with emerging markets such as ASEAN, Latin America, and Africa all maintained double-digit growth.

Transitioning from an "inland hinterland" to an "open frontier," Anhui has now joined the ranks of major foreign trade provinces. With a confident posture, it is embracing the world; with innovative wisdom, it is connecting globally. Product exports, brand globalization, and industrial chain expansion are advancing side by side. The rise of "Anhui Manufacturing" is transcending not only geographical boundaries but also developmental limits. Driven by the dual engines of openness and innovation, a more resilient and dynamic Anhui is striving to write a new chapter in high-level opening up, sharing fresh opportunities for development with the world.

Source: anhuinews.com