Shanghai-Listed Firms’ H1 Reports Highlight Resilience in Exports

Shanghai, September 2, 2025 — Half-year reports from Shanghai-listed companies show that China’s foreign trade exports demonstrated strong resilience. In the first half of 2025, more than 830 manufacturing firms listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange recorded a total overseas revenue of CNY 1.1 trillion, representing a 5% year-on-year increase.

Among them, private enterprises generated over CNY 740 billion in overseas income, up 6% YoY, becoming the core driving force behind innovative “going global” initiatives.

Chen Jianwei (陈建伟), a professor at the National Institute of Opening-up Strategy at the University of International Business and Economics, said in an interview with Securities Daily that these results highlight the international competitiveness of China’s manufacturing sector. Despite global economic headwinds, listed companies have maintained steady overseas revenue growth, mainly benefiting from market expansion, product upgrades, and management improvements. He noted that this demonstrates the endogenous momentum of China’s economy and signals that the country is accelerating its transition from the “world’s factory” to a global value creation hub.

In terms of market diversification, Yiwu International Trade City has focused on expanding into emerging markets in the Middle East, South America, and Africa, launching 13 new overseas projects in the first half of the year. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, leveraging over 300 container shipping routes, has become an important hub connecting the Belt and Road Initiative with the Yangtze River Economic Belt. In brand globalization, King Long (金龙汽车) has expanded its sales network to more than 170 countries and regions, with bus exports increasing by 52.4% YoY, performing strongly in markets such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Tunisia, and Vietnam.

Technological innovation has also become a key driver of export growth. Huayou Cobalt (华友钴业) reported that its ternary cathode materials accounted for 57% of China’s total exports in this category and achieved breakthroughs in e-VTOL aircraft and humanoid robotics. Sinomed (赛诺医疗) obtained conditional FDA approval in the United States for its HTSupreme drug-eluting stent, becoming the first domestically developed high-end implantable medical device approved for entry into the U.S. market. Chen emphasized that high-value-added technologies and products enable enterprises to avoid low-price competition and secure stronger global recognition and profit margins.

On the policy side, Song Siyuan (宋思源), an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, noted that the government has been providing strong support for manufacturers “going global” by optimizing the business environment, enhancing trade promotion, and facilitating trade liberalization. He said that listed companies are increasingly focusing on R&D investment and talent cultivation, leading to a steady stream of innovative achievements.

Looking ahead, Chen suggested that listed companies should continue to make efforts in three key areas: increasing R&D investment to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies, deepening global expansion through mergers, acquisitions, and establishing overseas R&D centers to enhance supply chain resilience, and strengthening brand-building to win consumer trust with high-quality and differentiated products, reducing reliance on price competition. Song added that enterprises should also promote green trade cooperation, establish comprehensive risk early-warning systems, and make full use of export credit insurance to manage trade frictions and currency fluctuations effectively.

Overall, the half-year reports of Shanghai-listed companies showcase the resilience and vitality of China’s foreign trade, with technological innovation and brand globalization emerging as the core engines for driving high-quality growth in the future.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}