Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region logs record exports in July

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Foreign trade in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region posted strong growth in the first seven months of 2026, with July exports hitting a single-month record high, according to statistics released by Beijing Customs.

In the first seven months, the region’s total import and export volume reached 3.05 trillion yuan (about 452 billion U.S. dollars), up 15.6 percent year on year, accounting for 10.1 percent of China’s total trade value.

In July alone, exports surged 15.0 percent, setting a new monthly record, while import growth maintained double-digit expansion for the fifth consecutive month.

State-owned enterprises continued to play a dominant role in the region’s foreign trade, a defining feature of its trade structure.

In the first seven months, the import and export volume of state-owned enterprises grew 18 percent year on year, taking up 53.6 percent of the region’s total. Private enterprises registered a faster growth rate of 22.5 percent, contributing 5.9 percentage points to the region’s overall trade expansion during the same period.

Among the three areas, Hebei Province recorded the fastest growth at 30.8 percent, while Beijing accounted for 69.5 percent of the region’s total trade value, underscoring its role as the core driver.

Huang Hai, deputy director of the statistical analysis division of Beijing Customs, noted that the solid trade performance is supported by optimized trade patterns and a more diversified market landscape.

“In the first seven months, Beijing drove more than 11.3 percentage points of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region’s overall trade growth, with all three areas registering positive import and export growth. From the perspective of trade modes, general trade has long held the dominant position, accounting for 72 percent of the total, which indicates a high degree of independence in the industrial chain. At the same time, bonded logistics trade jumped 61.4 percent, reflecting strong vitality from emerging business formats,” he said.

“Most notably, the region’s trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative now makes up 52.8 percent of its total foreign trade, marking a clear transformation trend in its foreign trade market structure,” he added.

The 2026 China AI Gala aired nationwide on China Media Group’s CCTV-1 channel, online platforms, and other media outlets on Sunday night.

The event showcases a dynamic fusion of technology and art, featuring human-machine performances, intelligent installations, and other innovative programs.

The gala also unveiled the 2026 AI Figures of the Year, recognizing outstanding individuals at the forefront of AI innovation.