During the first seven months of this year, Jiangsu Province's import and export trade with ASEAN reached 810.85 billion yuan, marking a substantial 36.4% year-on-year increase, according to statistics from Nanjing Customs. This robust growth comes as 2026 approaches, which will mark the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. As a major open economy, Jiangsu has maintained particularly close economic and trade ties with the ASEAN region.
Suzhou Flower Fairy Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. recently obtained a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area certificate of origin for a shipment of air fresheners and dehumidifiers worth 710,000 yuan destined for Malaysia. According to Feng Xuehua, the company's customs affairs manager, obtaining this certificate allows their overseas customers to enjoy a 4% tariff preference, effectively reducing overall costs and enhancing the competitiveness of their products in the local market.
From January to July, Taicang Customs issued a total of 3,979 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area certificates of origin, representing a 13.6% increase compared to the same period last year. This uptick reflects the growing utilization of trade agreements among Jiangsu exporters.
Jiangsu CC Grass Co., Ltd. has established a strong presence in the ASEAN market by focusing on two main product lines: sports turf and leisure turf, precisely tailored to meet the diverse needs of the region. Fu Baojuan, the company's publicity supervisor, explained the challenges their products face in Southeast Asia: "The high temperatures and strong ultraviolet radiation in the region cause artificial turf to fade and age more quickly, leading to blade brittleness and adhesive layer separation, which significantly shortens the product's actual lifespan. This demands exceptional product engineering." In response to ASEAN customer requirements, the company developed specialized aging-resistant materials that dramatically improve UV resistance while also optimizing blade flexibility and adhesive processes to prevent mold and thread detachment in humid conditions.
The improved artificial turf now demonstrates a service life increase of more than 40% in ASEAN markets. This innovative approach, developed specifically for local conditions, has enabled the company to escape homogeneous price competition and establish a difficult-to-replicate differentiation advantage. During the first seven months of the year, the company's exports of artificial turf to ASEAN countries grew by 126% in value terms.