Many Chinese firms are actively expanding beyond traditional Western markets. — China Daily
Beijing: Facing headwinds from trade protectionism and a slowing global economy, Chinese manufacturers are driving industrial upgrades to sharpen their edge, with tech-intensive green products gaining increasing traction in emerging markets.
Exporters noted that rapid urbanisation and industrialisation were boosting the demand for advanced electromechanical solutions.
As a result, many Chinese firms are actively expanding beyond traditional Western markets, capitalising on initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative to strengthen their footholds and unlock new consumer opportunities.
Risen Energy Co Ltd, a Ningbo, Zhejiang province-based solar cell and module maker, has been heading in that direction.
It sealed a deal with Brazil’s MTR Solar Group to jointly develop one gigawatt-hour battery energy storage system solutions last month, further enhancing their ties in the Latin American market.
“In the past, our exports were primarily focused on the United States and South-East Asia. However, with increasing tariff threats, we have been actively expanding our international sales network and have established numerous partnerships in regions and countries such as Eastern Europe, Latin America and Australia,” said Tian Ye, Risen Energy’s head of logistics.
The company’s exports of energy-storage products reached 50 million yuan or about US$6.9mil in the first two months of this year, jumping 870% year-on-year (y-o-y), data from Ningbo Customs showed.
As many emerging economies undergo rapid urbanisation, driving increased infrastructure projects, smart city initiatives and industrial expansion, high-end mechanical and electrical products – such as intelligent manufacturing equipment and renewable-energy solutions – have become essential for modernising these sectors, said Yuan Bo, a researcher specialising in foreign trade at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing.
Moreover, excessive reliance on developed markets could expose Chinese exporters to geopolitical risks, prompting a strategic shift toward market diversification, Yuan said.
Despite protectionist moves and the disruption of global supply chains, the US reliance on goods from China has not substantially decreased to date, according to the DHL Trade Atlas 2025, a report that features insights and analysis on global trade growth trends and prospects released last week.
The study, published by DHL Group, a German logistics services provider, and New York University’s Stern School of Business, said made-in-China products have found new routes to the United States. — China Daily/ANN
