Shenzhen foreign trade hits record US$653.28B in 2025

Shenzhen’s foreign trade reached a historic high in 2025, with total imports and exports climbing to 4.55 trillion yuan (US$653.38 billion), according to data released by Shenzhen Customs.

The 1.4% year-on-year increase secures Shenzhen’s position as the leading trade city on the Chinese mainland. The city’s export volume reached 2.74 trillion yuan, marking the 33rd consecutive year it has held the top spot among Chinese cities, while imports grew by 8% to 1.81 trillion yuan. 

Data source: Shenzhen Customs

Growth amid global headwinds

Despite global economic pressures, Shenzhen’s trade structure showed signs of maturation and resilience. General trade accounted for more than half of the total volume at 2.44 trillion yuan (53.5% of the total), while bonded logistics grew by 6.4% to 1.22 trillion yuan (26.7%). Processing trade stood at 878.13 billion yuan, an increase of 4.1%.

Data source: Shenzhen Customs

The city’s private sector remained the primary engine of growth, contributing 3.12 trillion yuan, or 68.5% of total trade. Notably, foreign-invested enterprises showed a sharp increase, growing 13.6% to 1.29 trillion yuan and accounting for 28.3% of the total trade. Imports and export volumes of State-own enterprises stood at 142.05 billion yuan. 

Sector highlights: tech and green energy

Shenzhen’s reputation as a global tech hub was reinforced by a 4.8% increase in the export of mechanical and electrical products, totaling 2.09 trillion yuan, accounting for 76.3% of total exports.

Integrated circuits were a standout performer, with exports surging 41.8% to 243.99 billion yuan.

Growth was driven by green technologies and high-end manufacturing represented by lithium batteries (84.78 billion yuan), electric vehicles (32.56 billion yuan), medical equipment (30.92 billion yuan), and 3D printers (9.08 billion yuan). Lithium battery exports rose 30.2%, while 3D printer exports jumped 39.6%.

In the consumer electronics category, computers and audio-visual equipment maintained steady growth at 8.7% and 5.8% respectively, totaling 323.17 billion yuan and 91.52 billion yuan.

Strong regional ties

The city’s top 10 trading partners accounted for 78.4% of total trade, totaling 3.57 trillion yuan, up 2.6%. Trade with Hong Kong, Shenzhen's largest partner, grew by 12.7% to 789.5 billion yuan. Significant growth was also recorded with Taiwan (492.19 billion yuan, up 7%), Japan (up 21.6%), South Korea (up 8.7%), and the European Union (up 4.6%).

Data source: Shenzhen Customs

Surge in key imports

On the import side, Shenzhen saw a significant 19.5% increase in integrated circuits, totaling 819.27 billion yuan, and a 13.2% rise in computer components (mainly graphics cards and servers) totaling 301.7 billion yuan.

Additionally, agricultural imports grew by 9.1% to 99.82 billion yuan, highlighted by a 92.5% spike in grain imports (11.75 billion yuan) and a 34.6% increase in edible aquatic products (11.52 billion yuan), reflecting shifts in domestic consumption patterns.