Recent economic data for January to February 2026 released by the Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Statistics indicates synchronized improvement in core industrial and foreign trade indicators, marking a stable start to the year. Industrial recovery has been particularly notable, with value-added output from large-scale industries increasing by 9.8% year-on-year, accelerating by 2.9 percentage points compared to the full-year growth rate of the previous year. Among 37 major industrial categories, 32 sectors experienced positive growth in value-added output. Foreign trade maintained steady progress, with total goods import and export volume reaching 989 billion yuan, up 17.1% year-on-year. Exports amounted to 768.5 billion yuan, rising 21.4% year-on-year, exceeding the national average growth rate.
This favorable start is supported by targeted policy measures. Since 2026, Zhejiang has advanced the implementation of its "8+4" economic policy framework, fostering the development of "415X" advanced manufacturing clusters, promoting industrial technological upgrades and equipment renewal, and providing policy support for capacity expansion and product enhancement.
At the corporate level, several Zhejiang-based manufacturing listed companies are aligning their operations with the industry’s recovery momentum. Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp has focused on intelligent manufacturing equipment, advancing the delivery of new energy vehicle and high-end manufacturing production line projects since early 2026. In February, the company entered a major technical collaboration with KUKA, completing the commercial integration of KUKA’s flagship heavy-duty robot, the KR TITAN Ultra, at its Grambach base in Austria. This product has since been deployed in automotive customer production lines, strengthening the company’s technological edge and global competitiveness in high-end new energy vehicle manufacturing.
Shuanglin Co., Ltd., leveraging its established R&D system and transmission drive team, has formed a specialized robotics module R&D unit. This move has enabled the company to achieve a closed-loop industrial chain spanning from ball/roller screws to robotic linear joint modules, building a core technological barrier. According to investor updates, the company has established an annual production capacity of 100,000 sets of roller screws and plans to gradually expand this to 1 million sets, ensuring a stable supply of core components for its robotics business. A pilot production line for robotic modules can currently meet annual demand of 120,000 sets, with a mass production line in the planning phase.
Bolstered by steady industrial recovery, Zhejiang’s foreign trade firms are accelerating global expansion and strengthening export momentum. As a leading listed company in Zhejiang’s foreign trade sector, Zhejiang China Commodities City Group Co., Ltd. has concentrated on cross-border trade and market procurement, capitalizing on the advantages of the Yiwu small commodities market. The company has developed the Chinagoods cross-border e-commerce integrated service platform, offering comprehensive services including customs clearance, logistics, and settlement. Its Yiwu Pay platform now operates in over 160 countries and regions. To further expand overseas markets, the company signed a strategic investment agreement with the African B2B e-commerce platform Egatee on January 9, deepening its digital presence in China-Africa trade and opening new avenues for the "Yiwu China Commodities City" brand in Africa.
Zhejiang Leapmotor Technologies Co., Ltd. has also achieved remarkable results in overseas markets. According to its official website, the company exported 67,052 vehicles in 2025, ranking first among Chinese emerging automotive brands. By the end of February 2026, cumulative exports exceeded 100,000 units. As of the end of 2025, the company had established approximately 900 sales and after-sales service outlets in about 40 markets worldwide, including over 800 in Europe. In 2026, Leapmotor is advancing a CKD project in Spain, with a supporting battery plant scheduled for trial production in April and partial mass production in July, further boosting its export capabilities.
Despite these positive developments, certain challenges remain. From January to February, the Producer Price Index (PPI) for industrial products in Zhejiang fell by 1.5% year-on-year, while purchasing prices for industrial producers dropped by 1.4%, indicating continued price declines in industrial goods. Analysts warn that sustained PPI declines may compress corporate profit margins, raising the risk that increased production could lead to reduced profitability or even losses. It has been suggested that closer monitoring of price, inventory, and order dynamics, along with differentiated policy measures and diversification of export markets, will be essential to support the sustained and healthy development of Zhejiang’s industrial and foreign trade sectors.