In the first quarter of 2026, Guangdong's total foreign trade reached 2.54 trillion yuan, a 19.4% increase. Exports stood at 1.53 trillion yuan, a 14.3% increase; imports hit 1.01 trillion yuan, a 27.8% increase, marking the first time that quarterly imports have exceeded one trillion yuan.

For a long time, the outside world has measured Guangdong primarily by its exports, but the rapid catch-up in imports tells a different story: Guangdong is not just a factory that sells to the world; it is also a rising giant that buys from the world.

Source:Pearl
Editor:Xue Yan