Guangxi rides trade wave with ASEAN as agricultural imports skyrocket

According to Nanning Customs, Guangxi's total foreign trade reached 323.64 billion yuan ($45.03 billion) in the first five months of 2025, up 14.8 percent year-on-year—12.3 percentage points higher than China's overall foreign trade growth.

Trade with ASEAN exceeded 173.5 billion yuan, accounting for 53.6 percent of Guangxi's total, with Vietnam remaining the top partner, and significant growth seen with Thailand and Indonesia.

Agricultural imports from ASEAN soared, enriching local consumer markets. In May alone, Guangxi imported 2.01 billion yuan in consumer goods, an eight-month high. Imports of Indonesian palm oil, Cambodian bananas, and Thai fruit juice surged by over 200 percent, 180 percent, and 800 percent respectively.

Mechanical and labor-intensive products remained Guangxi's top exports, while lithium battery exports nearly tripled. Bulk commodity imports also recovered, totaling 74.29 billion yuan. Strong growth in key industries such as electrical machinery and automotive manufacturing continues to drive Guangxi's foreign trade.