Guangdong's total imports and exports reached 3.75 trillion yuan in the first five months of 2025, up 4% year-on-year. Exports totaled 2.37 trillion yuan, up 0.9%, while imports rose by 9.7% to 1.38 trillion yuan. May alone recorded continued positive growth, according to data from the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC.

Mechanical and electrical products played a key role in Guangdong's foreign trade. Exports in this category reached 1.6 trillion yuan, up 6.7%, accounting for 67.7% of Guangdong's total exports, which is 3.7 percentage points higher than a year earlier. Notable export performers included motorcycles, which accounted for 15.52 billion yuan, up 38.1%; electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar cells, which reached 69.94 billion yuan, up 29.8%; and drones, which totaled 6.92 billion yuan, up 27.1%.

Mechanical and electrical product imports totaled 965.65 billion yuan, surging 20.7%, and made up 69.9% of Guangdong's total imports.

Private enterprises remained Guangdong's largest trade entity, with a trade volume of 2.4 trillion yuan, up 4.4%, making up 64.1% of the total. Foreign-invested firms posted the fastest growth, rising 5% to 1.17 trillion yuan.

General trade accounted for 2.21 trillion yuan, growing 2.4% and representing 59% of the total trade value. Bonded logistics rose 14.9% to 751.37 billion yuan, while processing trade dropped 0.9% to 745.52 billion yuan.

ASEAN, Hong Kong SAR, and the EU were the top three trading partners, with respective growth rates of 6.2%, 7.8%, and 7.1%, all above the overall average. The U.S. ranked fourth, with trade falling 9.6% to 378.48 billion yuan due to U.S. tariff policies.

Reporter | Dai Bosi

Photo | Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC

Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He