Data released by Xing Sha Customs on August 19 shows that in the first seven months of 2026, Changsha's total import and export value reached 181.17 billion yuan, marking an 11.3% increase year-on-year and accounting for 52.7% of Hunan Province's total foreign trade. Exports stood at 108.75 billion yuan, while imports surged 35.1% to 72.42 billion yuan.

A visit to the production facility of Changsha Sanglaite Agricultural Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. reveals a wide array of modern agricultural machinery. "Our export value for the first half of the year hit over 20 million yuan, a 25% increase from the same period last year," said Zhou Zhi, the company's chairman. The firm's primary export is tractors, with its articulated tractor—boasting the nation's smallest turning radius—becoming a standout product at a price exceeding 50,000 yuan. The company has also developed articulated tractors, palm harvesters, and rice transplanters to cater to diverse customer needs, and it projects total exports of 50 million yuan this year.

During the January-July period, 4,914 companies in Changsha engaged in actual import and export activities, an increase of 1,034 compared to the same period last year. Private enterprises contributed 151.49 billion yuan to the total, up 15% and representing 83.6% of the city's overall trade volume.

Business vitality continues to strengthen, and market expansion is proceeding in tandem. In the first seven months, Changsha's trade with Belt and Road Initiative partner countries reached 108.48 billion yuan, an 8.8% increase. Imports and exports with other RCEP member states grew 19.3% to 59.36 billion yuan. Trade with traditional markets, including the EU, the US, Hong Kong, Japan, and the UK, rose 19.4% to 44.28 billion yuan. Within emerging markets, trade with ASEAN increased 14.1% to 34.63 billion yuan, while trade with Latin America grew 9.8% to 19.68 billion yuan.

Construction machinery exports have maintained growth for nine consecutive months. From January to July, Changsha exported 73.72 billion yuan in mechanical and electrical products, a 0.9% rise that accounts for nearly 70% of total exports. Notably, commercial vehicles, electrical control devices, and agricultural machinery saw export growth of 24.7%, 75.4%, and 20.2%, respectively. Construction machinery exports reached 22.47 billion yuan, up 26.4%.

Imports of integrated circuits and resource-based goods saw notable gains. Mechanical and electrical product imports totaled 33.56 billion yuan, a 51.8% increase representing 46.3% of total imports, with integrated circuits and automatic data processing equipment parts growing 40.1% and 371%, respectively. Metal ore imports climbed 45% to 18.59 billion yuan, accounting for 25.7% of the total, while natural and synthetic rubber imports rose 18.9% to 1.5 billion yuan.