ASEAN Remains Shanghai’s Largest Trading Partner

Shanghai (ANTARA) – Shanghai’s total imports and exports with ASEAN reached 642.77 billion yuan (one yuan = Rp2,718) in the first three quarters of this year, an increase of 35.3 per cent year on year, according to data from Shanghai Customs cited by Xinhua.

ASEAN has therefore been Shanghai’s largest trading partner for five consecutive months. Shanghai Customs statistics show that in the first three quarters of 2026, both imports from and exports to ASEAN grew by more than 30 per cent.

As China’s economic centre, Shanghai’s trade with ASEAN continues to expand, reflecting the strong vitality of China–ASEAN regional economic integration.

Li Jirong, director of the statistics and analysis department at Shanghai Customs, said trade between Shanghai and ASEAN had several distinctive features: the two sides’ industrial and supply chains were interconnected, integrated and developing in tandem, while their imports and exports complemented each other’s strengths and brought mutual benefits.

In the first three quarters of 2026, goods trade between Shanghai and ASEAN reached 390.52 billion yuan, up 36.3 per cent year on year, accounting for more than 60 per cent of the total value of imports and exports between them. Shanghai exported goods worth 312.11 billion yuan to ASEAN, up 34.6 per cent, and imported goods worth 330.66 billion yuan from the bloc, up 35.9 per cent.

Shanghai’s leading products, including electric vehicles, photovoltaic products and lithium batteries, have provided ASEAN consumers with a diverse range of high-quality, affordable options.

Exports of these three product categories to ASEAN rose by 67.5 per cent, 340 per cent and 210 per cent respectively in the first three quarters of this year.

Meanwhile, ASEAN’s leading products, including bags, clothing, and fresh and dried fruit, are important imports for Shanghai.

In the first three quarters of 2026, imports of these categories from ASEAN to Shanghai increased by 30.8 per cent, 6.3 per cent and 9.2 per cent respectively, enriching the “wardrobes” and “fruit baskets” of consumers in Shanghai and across China.

Shanghai’s total imports and exports reached 3.94 trillion yuan in the first three quarters of this year, an increase of 17.9 per cent year on year. Trade with ASEAN accounted for 16.3 per cent of the city’s total foreign trade.