In 2026, China's exports are moving from "products going to sea" to the era of "industrial chains going to sea"

Published：2026-07-24Author：henry10 viewsSource：奇点数聚

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In 2026, there is a set of data that many people don't feel much after reading it. In the first half of the year, China's electric vehicle exports increased by 68.7%, lithium battery exports increased by 37.6%, and wind turbine exports increased by 35.6%.

In 2026, there is a set of data that many people don't feel much after reading it.

first half of the year,China's electric vehicle exports increased by 68.7%, lithium battery exports increased by 37.6%, and wind turbine exports increased by 35.6%. At the same time, exports of high-tech products increased by 39%, and the proportion of exports of mechanical and electrical products in total exports further increased.

If you just regard it as news, you will think: "New energy vehicle exports have increased. "

But if you put yourself from the perspective of a foreign trader, you will find:

The protagonist of China's exports has changed.

Twenty years ago, China exported goods; today, China exports industrial chains.

Remember twenty years ago?

At that time, China's largest exports were:

Clothing, shoes and hats, toys, furniture.

Later it became:

Mobile phones, computers, home appliances.

Later, there were drones, construction machinery, and photovoltaics.

Today, more and more containers no longer contain just "one car."

It is a complete set of new energy vehicle industry chain.

Customs data shows thatIn the first half of this year, the total import and export value of my country's goods trade exceeded 25 trillion yuan for the first time in the same period in history, and exports maintained growth for 11 consecutive quarters. Among them, exports of mechanical and electrical products increased by 20.1%, accounting for more than 60% of the total export value, and exports of high-tech products increased by 39%。

What does this mean?

This means that global buyers are re-recognizing "Made in China."

In the past, they came to China to purchase products.

Now they come to China to find supply chains.

These two concepts seem to be only two words different, but they represent completely different competitive eras.

2. Many people see BYD, and those who really make money see the entire industrial chain.

Many people only think of a few brands when talking about new energy vehicles.

BYD.

Geely.

Chery.

Chang 'an.

But real export opportunities have never been limited to vehicle factories.

Behind a new energy vehicle, tens of thousands of parts are involved.

From power batteries and electric drive systems, to wiring harnesses, connectors, lights, wheel hubs, shock absorbers, to charging equipment, maintenance tools, and testing instruments, every link corresponds to a factory, a group of suppliers, and a Export opportunity.

The real change is not that China sells more cars.

Instead, more and more overseas customers are starting to purchase:

New energy vehicle parts;
Power batteries and supporting products;
Charging piles and charging equipment;
Energy storage system;
New energy maintenance equipment;
Intelligent vehicle-mounted electronic products.

Many companies think they are not capable of exporting complete vehicles.

But in fact, they have long stood in the new energy vehicle industry chain.

I just don't realize it yet.

3. The real outlet is not electric vehicles, but the "global energy structure."

Why do new energy vehicle exports continue to grow?

Many people's answers are:

Because China cars are cheap.

In fact, this is only one of the reasons.

What really drives this round of growth is the changes in the global energy structure.

More and more countries have formulated exit schedules for fuel vehicles.

More and more cities are building charging networks.

More and more companies are beginning to purchase new energy logistics vehicles.

New energy vehicles are no longer just consumer goods.

It has become part of a global industrial upgrade.

Therefore, it is not just electric vehicles that are growing fastest this year.

There are also green products such as lithium batteries, wind power generation equipment, and electric motorcycles.

This shows:

The world is buying more than just products.

Buy the future.

4. Those who really make money are not necessarily the people who build cars

Last year, I met a Zhejiang company.

They don't build cars.

Many people have not even heard of their names.

what they do isHigh-voltage wiring harness for new energy vehicles.

In the past, customers mainly came from domestic vehicle manufacturers.

This year, their biggest change is not the increase in domestic orders.

Instead, overseas customers began to take the initiative to come to their door.

The reason is simple.

More and more overseas car companies are beginning to adopt China's supply chains.

For buyers, they don't care if you are a well-known brand.

They are more concerned about three things:

First, whether the quality is stable.
Second, whether the delivery date is reliable.
Third, whether the price is competitive.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises do not have the ability to export complete vehicles.

However, there is every opportunity to become part of the global new energy vehicle industry chain.

This is what really deserves attention.

5. Which foreign trade companies are most worthy of deployment in the next five years?

If I had to choose an exit track again.

I will not just stare at the entire new energy vehicle.

I am more concerned about the following directions:

First, new energy vehicle parts.

Demand is stable, customer stickiness is high, and repurchase rate is high.

Second, lithium batteries are matched with energy storage.

As global energy storage demand increases, the space for this track is still expanding.

Third, charging equipment.

Selling a new energy vehicle is just the beginning.

There is also the construction of a charging network behind.

Fourth, smart car electronics.

Smart cockpit, car screen, sensors, control module...

In the future, cars will become more and more like a mobile smart terminal.

Fifth, overseas after-sales service.

Selling products can only make money once.

Only by doing services can you make long-term money.

A truly mature export company is no longer just "delivering goods."

It is to build service capabilities overseas.

6. Traffic has also changed.

Many factories still rely on exhibitions.

Many companies are still waiting for customer inquiries.

But overseas procurement methods have changed.

More and more buyers will search first:

Google。

YouTube。

TikTok。

LinkedIn。

They don't look at the offer first.

Instead, look first:

Does this company have a factory?

Is there real production?

Is there a real delivery?

Are there any real customers?

In the past, an exhibition decided on one-year orders.

Now, a real video may bring global customers.

Therefore, in the future, the export of new energy vehicles will not only focus on products.

It also includes brand, content and continuous customer acquisition capabilities.

7. The real rewrite of China's tram exports is made in China.

Many people like to discuss:

How long will new energy vehicles last?

Instead, I felt that the question was wrong.

What is really worth discussing is:

After new energy vehicles, what else?

The answer is actually written in the export data.

High-tech products continue to grow.

Green energy products continue to grow.

High-end equipment continues to grow.

Behind these increases, it means that manufacturing in China is moving from a "scale advantage" to a "technological advantage."

In the next decade, China's biggest export opportunity may not be just new energy vehicles.

It is the entire industrial ecology formed around new energy vehicles.

Selling more than just cars.

Selling batteries.

Selling software.

Selling is the supply chain.

Selling is standard.

What sells more is the global competitiveness of manufacturing in China.

last

Every ten years, a new protagonist appears in global trade.

Twenty years ago, it was clothing.

Ten years ago, it was consumer electronics.

Today, it is new energy vehicles and their industrial chain.

The tuyere never informs everyone in advance.

By the time everyone sees it, the dividends are often over.

For foreign trade companies, the really important issues are not:

"Can new energy vehicles still be built? "

Instead:

"Can your products enter the new energy vehicle industry chain? "

Because in the next round of global trade competition, the competition is no longer about who has lower costs, but who joins the new industrial chain earlier.

Export is never about selling products.

The essence of export is to participate in the next round of global industrial division of labor.