Published by ChinaMNC · Xinhui

Jiangmen Exporters Leverage APEC 'China Year' to Accelerate Outbound Growth: 74.03 Billion Yuan in Q1-Q3 Exports to APEC Economies

Foreign founders operating in China can learn from Jiangmen's export success to APEC markets. Q1-Q3 exports to APEC other economies reached 74.03 billion yuan, up 7.4% year-on-year, accounting for 54.8% of the city's total exports. Key sectors include small appliances, marine propellers, and paper products, supported by customs facilitation and free trade agreement utilization.

Jiangmen's APEC Export Boom: Lessons for Foreign Founders

As the APEC 'China Year' unfolds, companies in Jiangmen, Guangdong province, are rapidly expanding into Asia-Pacific markets. Official statistics from Jiangmen Customs show that in the first three quarters of this year, Jiangmen's exports to other APEC economies reached 74.03 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.4%, accounting for 54.8% of the city's total export value. Major destinations include Hong Kong (China), ASEAN, and the United States. This export performance offers valuable insights for foreign founders looking to register or operate a company in China, particularly in manufacturing and trade sectors.

Small Appliance Makers Brew Up Success

At the 140th Canton Fair, which opened on October 15, Jiangmen-based Guangdong Tianxi Electric Co., Ltd. showcased semi-automatic espresso machines and kitchen appliances. The company's products feature innovations such as a '20-bar Italian pressure pump' and an exclusive patented design with a detachable bean bin and grinder, attracting significant attention from overseas buyers. Tianxi Electric is a key processing trade enterprise in Heshan, Jiangmen, importing key materials like plastic granules and heating wires under bonded arrangements, then performing injection molding and assembly domestically. With an annual capacity of 2 million units, the company exported 160 million yuan worth of small appliances to other APEC economies this year and applied for export origin certificates valued at 5.114 million yuan. In the first three quarters, Jiangmen's home appliance exports to other APEC economies totaled 6.5 billion yuan.

For foreign founders, this illustrates the potential of leveraging China's mature manufacturing ecosystem and processing trade models to access APEC markets. Customs authorities like Heshan Customs provide proactive services, including pre-registration and online processing, to facilitate such operations.

Marine Propellers: Heavy Equipment, Smooth Clearance

Kaiping Yuanhang Propeller Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a national high-tech enterprise and provincial 'specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative' SME, has been manufacturing marine propulsion equipment for over 30 years. Its propellers, fixed-pitch propellers, and ice-breaking propellers are exported globally. In the first three quarters, the company exported 54.89 million yuan worth of marine propellers to other APEC economies, up 22% year-on-year. Recently, large propellers that passed flaw detection and performance tests were shipped in batches to South Korea and Vietnam.

To support such exports, Jiangmen Customs offers 'one enterprise, one policy' guidance on classification and declaration, and promotes a facilitated clearance model combining 'advance declaration + appointment inspection' to adapt to production and transportation schedules. In the first three quarters, Jiangmen's marine propeller exports reached 166 million yuan, up 31.2% year-on-year, while ship exports to other APEC economies totaled 5.23 billion yuan, up 4.6%.

Paper Industry Leverages FTAs

Asia Symbol (Guangdong) Paper Co., Ltd., a leading enterprise in the Xinhui Yinzhou Lake Paper Base, produces high-grade cultural paper, tissue paper, and packaging paper. The base hosts industry leaders like Asia Symbol and Vinda, forming a complete industrial chain with a capacity of 10 million tons, providing a solid foundation for accessing APEC markets.

However, diverse tariff policies and rules of origin across APEC economies pose challenges. Xinhui Customs conducts policy briefings and face-to-face consultations to help enterprises choose the best agreements. In the first three quarters, Xinhui Customs issued 11,800 origin certificates for exports to other APEC economies, with a value exceeding 3 billion yuan, up 14.3% and 19.4% respectively. Among these, nearly 1,800 certificates were for paper products, valued at nearly 600 million yuan, up 42.6% and 35.3%.

Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

• Utilize processing trade: Import raw materials under bonded arrangements, add value through domestic manufacturing, and export to APEC markets. This model, as used by Tianxi Electric, offers flexibility and cost advantages.
• Engage with customs early: Proactively communicate with local customs for pre-registration and policy guidance. Services like 'one enterprise, one policy' and online processing can streamline operations.
• Leverage FTAs: Stay informed about rules of origin and tariff reductions under agreements like RCEP. Customs can help match your products with the most beneficial agreements.
• Choose strategic locations: Jiangmen's industrial clusters, such as the paper base and appliance manufacturing hubs, provide ready supply chains and infrastructure.

These strategies, evidenced by Jiangmen's export growth, can help foreign founders navigate China's regulatory environment and tap into APEC markets effectively.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.