- EVs and lithium batteries are now among the fastest-growing pillars of Zhejiang’s exports
- Provincial trade climbs in early 2026 as policy support and industrial upgrading reinforce momentum
Zhejiang’s push into clean-energy manufacturing is increasingly shaping its trade profile, with electric vehicles (EVs) and lithium batteries emerging as key growth engines despite external headwinds.
In the first quarter, EV exports from the eastern Chinese province jumped 90.7% year on year to 16.65 billion yuan, while lithium battery exports surged 124.2% to 12.57 billion yuan, according to Hangzhou Customs data.
Together, the two categories accounted for more than one-fifth of Zhejiang’s export growth over the period.
Overall, Zhejiang’s foreign trade rose 7.1% in the first quarter to 1.38 trillion yuan, with exports surpassing the one-trillion-yuan mark for the first time in a single quarter, up 6.8% year on year.
Industrial upgrading continued to reshape the export mix. Mechanical and electrical products reached 493.43 billion yuan, up 7.1%, accounting for nearly half of total exports.
High-end equipment and electronic information products rose 28.3% and 12%, respectively, signaling continued movement up the value chain.
To support further expansion, Zhejiang has rolled out China’s first provincial-level policy package focused on green trade, aimed at improving export competitiveness for products such as EVs and lithium batteries and streamlining customs clearance for environmentally sensitive goods.
At the local level, customs authorities in Jiaxing have introduced targeted measures for battery exporters, including tailored guidance on technical standards, documentation requirements and hazardous goods packaging rules, alongside personalized facilitation mechanisms designed to speed cross-border shipment while maintaining safety oversight.
