China's foreign trade thrives in spite global economic downturn

“Our sales volume has surged 200 percent in Peru over the same period last year and increased nearly 20 times year-on-year in Jamaica,” said a spokesperson from China National Building Material Group.

Sales in Brunei, Syria, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe have also grown significantly, the spokesperson added.

In recent years, the company has focused more on developing and expanding markets of the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Its business now operates in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East, and is influential in the emerging markets of Africa and South America.

At this year’s China Import and Export Fair, one of the company’s highlights will be to explore new markets. “We have uploaded nearly 100 products to the official website of the online exhibition, including steel pipes, aluminum foil, photovoltaic products, fittings, traffic barriers and geo-textile materials,” the spokesperson said.

The company conducts five to eight daily live broadcasts to promote the products in multiple languages including English, Spanish and Russian, to meet the needs of buyers from different countries.

Keshan Jinding Linen Textile is another company that greatly values developing in new markets. Since its establishment, the company has been dedicated to the research and development of linen products mainly exported to the United States, Japan and the European countries and regions.

“Linen is very welcomed by American and European customers due to its breathable, absorbent, antibacterial, ultraviolet-ray proof and flame-retardant features,” said Li Xuebin, deputy general manager of the company.

Because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes taking place in the international landscape, the company’s export orders, particularly those from the US, have fallen sharply, Li said.

To improve the situation, Keshan Jinding has been exploring new overseas markets while also tapping domestic potential for consumption.

“We are stepping up efforts to develop markets in the Middle East,” Li said. “Also, since Chinese people increasingly favor linen products and are increasingly friendly to the environment, sales in domestic markets have already overtaken the export volume.”

The company also supplies some Chinese dyeing and clothing factories, which has added to its sales increases in domestic markets, Li added.