Core Insights - The landscape of foreign trade cities in China is undergoing significant changes, with the top 50 cities contributing 80% of the national foreign trade volume, totaling 17.57 trillion yuan in the first half of the year [1][5][6] - 32 cities outperformed the national average growth rate of 2.9%, while 11 cities experienced negative growth, indicating a reshaping of the competitive dynamics among these cities [1][5] Group 1: Top Performers - Shenzhen emerged as the leading foreign trade city with an import-export volume of 4.50 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.4%, surpassing Shanghai's 4.27 trillion yuan [5][6] - Dongguan reclaimed its position as the "fifth foreign trade city" with a total import-export volume of 7492.79 billion yuan, growing by 16.5% [7][8] - Jinhua made significant strides, moving up to the eighth position with an import-export volume of 5086.79 billion yuan, reflecting a growth of 20.1% [8] Group 2: Emerging Cities - Yantai and Dalian surpassed Foshan in the rankings, with import-export volumes of 2534.64 billion yuan and 2350.11 billion yuan, respectively, while Foshan faced a decline of 9.0% [9][13] - Hefei's import-export volume reached 2051.72 billion yuan, growing by 22.8%, allowing it to rise in the rankings [13] - The rapid growth of new industries, particularly in electric vehicles and high-tech products, has been a key driver for cities like Hefei and Dongguan [13][14] Group 3: Notable Growth Rates - Fangchenggang and Zhengzhou recorded the highest growth rates among the top 50 foreign trade cities, with increases of 41.4% and 38.7%, respectively [14][15] - Fangchenggang's import-export volume reached 741.1 billion yuan, with exports growing 1.7 times [15] - Yili's import-export volume increased by 24.8%, allowing it to enter the top 50 foreign trade cities [16][20]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the competitive dynamics between Shanghai and Shenzhen in the realm of foreign trade, highlighting how Shanghai regained its position as the top foreign trade city in China after losing it to Shenzhen. The resurgence is attributed to the rise of private enterprises and strategic adjustments in trade partnerships and structures [3][60]. Group 1: Trade Dynamics - In 2024, Shenzhen surpassed Shanghai to become the top foreign trade city, driven by the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce and a significant number of export enterprises [6][7]. - Shanghai's foreign trade structure has been evolving, with private enterprises increasingly dominating the landscape, accounting for 56.8% of total import and export values in the first quarter of 2025 [11][12]. - The total import and export value of Shanghai reached over 1 trillion yuan in the first quarter of 2025, marking a significant recovery and surpassing Shenzhen [61][62]. Group 2: Private Enterprises' Contribution - In 2024, private enterprises in Shanghai contributed 1.63 trillion yuan to the city's GDP, accounting for over 30% of the total, and their tax contributions reached 559.9 billion yuan, nearly 38.2% of the city's total [16][20]. - The number of newly established private market entities in Shanghai reached 377,000, with private enterprises providing over 295,600 job opportunities, representing more than three-quarters of the city's total employment [20][18]. - The growth of private enterprises is evident in their export performance, with a 26% year-on-year increase in export value in the first quarter of 2025 [22][24]. Group 3: Strategic Adjustments - Shanghai has been actively restructuring its trade partnerships, reducing reliance on traditional markets like the U.S. and Europe, while increasing trade with countries like Russia and India, which saw export growth rates of 43.8% and 30.8%, respectively [45][48]. - The city has diversified its trade relationships, with Southeast Asia becoming an important market, as evidenced by the establishment of direct shipping routes to countries like Cambodia [54][55]. - Shanghai's proactive measures to support private enterprises and enhance the business environment reflect its commitment to maintaining its status as a leading trade hub [30][68].