Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Foreign Trade Hits Record High in H1

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region achieved a record-high foreign trade volume of 2.58 trillion yuan (approximately $356 billion) in the first half of 2026, according to data released by Beijing Customs on July 16. The figure represents a 16.2% year-on-year increase, with exports reaching 770.06 billion yuan (up 11.8%) and imports totaling 1.81 trillion yuan (up 18.1%), marking the strongest first-half performance in the region’s history.

Regional Integration Driving Growth

The milestone reflects deepening economic integration within China’s capital economic circle, a strategy elevated to a national priority in 2014. According to People’s Daily, the region’s trade value has now maintained year-on-year growth for six consecutive months, with monthly figures exceeding 400 billion yuan since March.

June was particularly notable: monthly exports reached 140.13 billion yuan, the first time the region has surpassed the 140 billion yuan threshold, while imports hit 348.84 billion yuan, a monthly record.

Wang Hui (王辉), Deputy Director and Spokesperson of Beijing Customs, told reporters that “the scale and growth rate of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei’s imports and exports both hit new peaks for the year, with the dividends of regional coordinated opening-up continuing to be released.” He noted that the three jurisdictions have achieved a complementary layout with clear division of labor, using customs clearance integration, industrial clustering, and modernization of trade formats as key drivers.

Divergent Performance Across the Three Jurisdictions

Beijing maintained its dominant “core” role, accounting for 1.78 trillion yuan in trade value — 69.3% of the regional total and a 16.5% increase year-on-year. The capital alone contributed 11.4 percentage points of the region’s 16.2% growth rate, reflecting its role as a hub for headquarters economy, financial services, and high-end R&D.

Hebei posted the fastest growth at 33.2%, signaling the success of industrial relocation from Beijing to the surrounding province. As manufacturing and processing capacities shift outward, Hebei is emerging as a major production and export base.

Tianjin, however, lagged significantly with only 2.4% growth, as reported by China News Service, raising questions about the port city’s competitive positioning within the regional economic framework.

Private Enterprises Lead the Charge

A striking feature of the H1 data is the dynamism of private enterprises. Their trade volume reached 711.67 billion yuan, up 21.9% year-on-year — outpacing state-owned enterprises (up 19.8%) and exceeding the national average for private enterprises by 4.9 percentage points. According to China Economic Net, private enterprises have become the primary engine of trade growth in the region.

State-owned enterprises still accounted for the largest absolute share at 1.39 trillion yuan, but the faster growth of the private sector signals a structural shift in the region’s trade composition.

High-Tech Exports Surge

The region’s export structure is undergoing a significant transformation toward high-value-added products. Mechanical and electrical products accounted for 458.32 billion yuan, or 59.5% of total exports, growing 17.4% year-on-year.

Within this category, the standout performers were:

Lithium-ion batteries: 14.16 billion yuan, up 145.5% (driven by EV and energy storage demand)
Integrated circuits: 37.91 billion yuan, up 82.9% (fueled by global AI and data center demand)
Automobiles: 53.85 billion yuan, up 29.3%
Electrical equipment: up 66.6%
Electronic components: up 59.4%

According to CNR, the global expansion of computing power, data center infrastructure, and terminal equipment demand has been a key catalyst for the region’s机电 product export performance.

Trade Diversification and Belt and Road

The region’s trade partners are also diversifying. Trade with Belt and Road Initiative countries reached 1.37 trillion yuan, accounting for 53% of the regional total. Trade with Africa’s 53 diplomatic partner countries grew 21.0% to 237.34 billion yuan. Notable bilateral surges included Switzerland (up 203.0%, likely driven by precious metals trade), Hong Kong (up 61.7%), Australia (up 65.9%), and Brazil (up 59.9%).

Bonded logistics trade surged 68.6%, while new trade formats such as cross-border e-commerce, market procurement, and overseas warehouses are emerging as additional growth engines.

Policy Drivers and Remaining Challenges

The region’s success is underpinned by significant customs reforms. Customs clearance integration — including “shipside direct pick-up” and “direct loading at port” procedures — has reduced cargo clearance time by 70%. Cross-regional joint credit certification now allows enterprises to enjoy equal inspection便利 across all three jurisdictions.

However, Zhang Xiaolan (张晓兰), a researcher at the National Information Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, cautioned that challenges remain. Speaking to People’s Daily, she noted that “industrial supporting capacity still has room for improvement, some small and medium enterprises have weak risk resilience, and market development in emerging markets remains insufficient.” She recommended deepening port integration reforms, utilizing preferential rules of origin policies, and accelerating the cultivation of new trade formats such as cross-border e-commerce and bonded R&D.

Outlook for the Second Half

With the region having set a high baseline in the first half, sustaining momentum will depend on several factors: the trajectory of global demand, the resilience of private-sector confidence, and the continued effectiveness of regional integration policies. The triple-digit growth rates in integrated circuits and lithium batteries, while impressive, raise questions about sustainability. Tianjin’s underperformance also warrants attention, as balanced regional development remains a stated policy goal.

As Zhang Xiaolan summarized, the priority for the second half is to “continuously amplify synergistic advantages and consolidate the growth momentum” — a task that will test the region’s ability to navigate both domestic structural transformation and an uncertain global trade environment.