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Frank Chen

China’s sanctions-hit far western region of Xinjiang had reported a surge in foreign trade this year, buoyed by skyrocketing growth in exports to the United States and other Western markets.
According to China Customs data, the value of Xinjiang’s exports and imports grew by 24.7 per cent in the first 11 months of the year to US$56.7 billion, well outpacing the national growth rate of 3.6 per cent.
The total also surpassed the 400 billion yuan mark for the first time.
Overall, Xinjiang shipped more goods than it brought in, with exports hitting US$48.25 billion and imports reaching US$8.44 billion.
Some of the biggest growth since the start of the year has been in shipments to the US and Britain, which rose more than 600 per cent year on year from January to November. Shipments to Canada, Japan and Germany also rose at least 200 per cent, China Customs said, releasing the data on Wednesday.
The authorities did not specify what kind of products led the export growth to the West, saying only that overall Xinjiang’s main exports were electrical products, garments and other textiles.
Two of the region’s prefectures – Ili and Kashgar – accounted for more than half the trade during the period, while the capital was third.


But there were signs of slowing expansion in November, with Xinjiang’s export growth slackening to 12.8 per cent from 25.5 per cent in October.
Year-on-year growth in exports to the US also dropped to 200 per cent, down from October’s 447 per cent.
But the US remained Xinjiang’s fifth-biggest export market in the January-November period, despite American bans on various products from the region, including cotton and tomatoes.
The US Congress passed the Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act in 2021 over allegations of forced labour and other human rights abuses targeting members of the largely Muslim Uygur community.
The act took effect the following June and led to sanctions on local officials as well as on Chinese exporters in key industries inside and outside Xinjiang.
Beijing vehemently denied the allegations, saying Washington’s actions were part of its strategy to contain China’s rise. In response, Beijing sanctioned some foreign researchers and diplomats.


Xinjiang authorities have also fought back at the Western sanctions. In August, the regional legislature vowed to increase support for firms targeted by the US over the forced labour allegations.
A resolution called to create a “positive social environment” for growth of businesses singled out by the US.
Xinjiang exporters’ efforts to consolidate ties with non-Western markets are also paying off, including with its two biggest markets of central Asia and countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Xinjiang’s yuan-calculated trade with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan increased by 6.9 per cent in the first 11 months while Asean trade was up 231 per cent.
Its trade with Africa, West Asia, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe has also increased significantly, according to the customs data.


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Economy

China Economy

The region’s trade volume has risen by roughly a quarter this year, with electrical products and garments leading the way


The region’s trade volume has risen by roughly a quarter this year, with electrical products and garments leading the way.


Xinjiang