As the 2026 Spring Festival consumption peak season arrives, the imported consumer market continues its strong momentum. On February 6, 2.3 tons of live lobster from Canada cleared customs smoothly at the Tianjin Air Port clearance base. On February 4, a shipment of 66 tons of Norwegian chilled salmon arrived at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. On February 3, imported mud crabs from Bangladesh underwent efficient customs clearance at Ningbo Airport. Such rapid customs clearance scenarios for imported goods are occurring across numerous locations in China, further highlighting the strong demand within the Chinese market for high-quality global products.
In recent years, China has implemented multiple measures to expand imports. Recently, the inaugural 2026 "Shared Mega-Market: Export to China" event was held in Beijing. Through collaborative efforts between the government and businesses, this initiative sends a positive signal to the world regarding China's proactive approach to opening its market. Relevant authorities are facilitating the smoother entry of premium global goods into the Chinese market by organizing a series of import promotion activities, enabling both domestic and international companies to share in the development benefits of China's vast market.
Data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that in 2025, China's import value reached 18.5 trillion yuan, making it the world's second-largest import market for the 17th consecutive year. Imports from over 130 countries and regions achieved growth, and China has become the primary export destination for nearly 80 countries. These figures fully demonstrate the consumption potential and import capacity of the Chinese market. The launch of the "Export to China" series of activities has allowed businesses and trade representatives from many countries to see new opportunities for deepening their presence in the Chinese market. The United Kingdom became the first country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with China on cooperation for the "Shared Mega-Market: Export to China" initiative.
Dr. Oliver Wyman, Chief Representative of the German Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, stated that the Chinese market is vast in scale and offers exciting development opportunities. The Chinese market is evolving rapidly, and consumer preferences are continuously upgrading. As an active practitioner of Thai investment in China, Tiansu Group will continue to increase its investment in the country, focusing on product innovation and localized development. The group aims to launch high-quality products that better meet the needs of Chinese consumers, continuously inject vitality into the market, and contribute more corporate strength to consolidating the traditional friendship between China and Thailand and promoting shared prosperity, said Zeng Senhong, CEO of Tiansu Group China.
Driven by the "Export to China" activities, major e-commerce platforms are actively leveraging their online channel advantages to build efficient bridges connecting global premium goods with Chinese consumers. He Chengfeng, Chief Compliance Officer of JD.com, stated that JD.com will utilize its strengths to implement an import doubling plan. Over the next three years, through methods like overseas direct sourcing and cross-border e-commerce, JD.com plans to introduce over 1,000 new overseas brands and help them double their sales in the Chinese market.
Various import companies are also making continuous efforts to seize consumption opportunities. "As early as January, we launched the 'Goodfarmer Gift Festival,' setting up gift zones in major channels nationwide and conducting thousands of roadshow activities. We hope consumers can easily select high-quality imported fruits and have a happy New Year," said Cui Yaming, Brand Director of Goodfarmer Fruits. Cui Yaming told the reporter that Goodfarmer's imported fruit business has now basically covered major high-quality supply chain production areas globally, importing more premium fruits into China. The "Export to China" activity plays a very important role in promoting Goodfarmer's deepening of global supply chain collaboration, expanding imported fruit consumption, and upgrading brand value, Cui added.
Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce, stated that organizing the "Export to China" series of activities is a proactive effort by China to expand independent opening, actively increase imports, and promote balanced trade development. It is also an innovative move by China, from the perspective of a trade partner, to jointly expand the pie of cooperation and uphold the multilateral trading system and free trade. Minister Wang introduced that in 2026, the Ministry of Commerce will organize over one hundred related events, inviting countries including the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Kenya, and Thailand to serve as annual theme countries for "Export to China." This aims to enhance mutual promotion of activities, strengthen supply-demand matching, and deepen international interaction, supporting the entry of more global high-quality goods and services into millions of Chinese households.
Regarding下一步 measures to expand imports, He Yadong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, stated that the Ministry will promote a dual-driven approach of "policy + activities" to better unleash the potential of the Chinese market. First, expand openness. By signing Partnership Agreements for Common Development, China will accelerate the implementation of zero-tariff measures on 100% of tariff lines for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. It will also promote the signing or upgrading of free trade agreements and orderly expand market access. Second, empower through policy. Special policies will be researched and introduced to further enhance the facilitation of import trade, optimize the source and regional structure of imported goods, and promote positive interaction between imports, investment, and consumption. Third, innovate activities. China will continue to host the China International Import Expo successfully, build the "Export to China" brand, and expand imports with greater intensity and more concrete measures.