To The Moon

According to recently released customs data, Shanghai's total import and export volume reached 2.1 trillion yuan in the first five months of the year, marking a growth of 17.9%. In May alone, imports and exports amounted to 420.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 11.5%, representing the 16th consecutive month of growth.

Beyond the impressive figures, a profound transformation in the structure of Shanghai's foreign trade is underway. The AI industry is driving growth in the import and export of upstream and downstream products, while green industries and robotics have emerged as bright spots for exports.

Products such as integrated circuits, storage components, and parts for automatic data processing equipment, all propelled by the AI industry, collectively accounted for 84.94 billion yuan in import and export value in May, surging by 87.9%. This single category alone contributed to a 10.5 percentage point increase in the city's overall foreign trade growth. Within this, integrated circuits, storage components, and parts for automatic data processing equipment grew by 25.6%, 170%, and 900% respectively.

The green industry has become another major highlight. Exports of the "new three" products—electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products—totaled 21.94 billion yuan, growing by 61.6%. Specifically, electric vehicle exports grew by 69.1%, lithium batteries by 12.7%, and photovoltaic products by 240%. Simultaneously, the robotics industry's export scale is taking shape, with industrial robot exports in May reaching 240 million yuan, a 75.7% increase.

These high-growth categories share a common characteristic: they are technology-intensive, involve long industrial chains, and possess high added value.

Surge in AI Hardware Exports Driven by Robust Industrial Chain Foundation

Robotics, artificial intelligence, and innovative pharmaceuticals, termed by some as the "new new three," represent the latest direction of China's industrial upgrading following the foreign trade "new three."

The import and export of parts for automatic data processing equipment grew ninefold, storage components increased by 170%, and integrated circuits grew by 25.6%. Viewed together, these three data points reveal a clear logic: the global explosion in demand for AI computing power has led to a sharp rise in exports of servers and data center equipment, driving up volumes for upstream storage chips and integrated circuits. The synergistic effect between finished products and components indicates that Shanghai has successfully established a functional supply chain in the AI hardware sector.

From a broader perspective, by 2025, the industrial scale of 394 major AI enterprises in the city exceeded 637 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 39.5%, already becoming a new driving force for the city's GDP growth.

According to the 2026 Shanghai Municipal Government Work Report, Shanghai is advancing breakthroughs across the entire industrial chain for integrated circuit equipment, components, materials, and EDA software, while deepening the implementation of the "Molding Shanghai" project. Industrial policies have laid a solid foundation on the supply side, enabling production capacity to be swiftly converted into exports when market opportunities arise. This growth is not reliant on the surge of one or two leading enterprises but stems from the coordinated output of the entire industrial ecosystem.

Currently, Shanghai has established a comprehensive development ecosystem integrating independent innovation, application-driven demand, open cooperation, ecological synergy, and security governance. From 394 major enterprises and a 637 billion yuan industrial scale to 169 registered large models and a talent pool of 300,000, Shanghai is accelerating its advancement towards becoming a globally influential "Shanghai highland" for artificial intelligence, powered by innovation and supported by its ecosystem.

The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, set for July 17, will once again focus global attention on Shanghai, showcasing the city's formidable capabilities and limitless potential as an "AI City."

Dedicated Customs Codes for Robots Streamline Export Channels

In addition to AI hardware, the performance of Shanghai's robotics exports is particularly notable. According to Shanghai Customs statistics, in the first five months of this year, exports of various specifically listed robots through Shanghai ports reached 8.36 billion yuan, shipped to 113 countries and regions worldwide. This accounted for over 40% of China's total robot exports, ranking first in the country.

The growth in industrial robot exports is underpinned by Shanghai's accumulated industrial foundation over many years. The global "Big Four" in robotics—ABB, Fanuc, Yaskawa Electric, and KUKA—have all established significant production bases in Shanghai. Fanuc operates its largest robot base outside Japan in Shanghai, while ABB's "super factory" is its largest and most automated facility globally.

These foreign giants have fostered technology and talent, enabling the growth of domestic enterprises. For instance, Shanghai STEP Electric Corporation's industrial robots now achieve 100% self-supply for two core components: controllers and servo drives. Shanghai has formed several specialized industrial parks, including the Baoshan Robot Industrial Park, Zhangjiang Robot Valley, and Jinqiao Robot Park. The parallel development of foreign and domestic capital, along with the formation of supply chains between large enterprises and SMEs, demonstrates that the export surge is a result of the entire ecosystem functioning effectively.

The case of intelligent bionic robots warrants closer examination. Exports in the first five months reached 110 million yuan, accounting for one-fifth of China's total exports in the same period. Behind this figure lies a significant institutional innovation.

Since January 1, 2026, intelligent bionic robots have been assigned dedicated customs tariff codes. Previously, the "Import and Export Tariff Schedule" primarily classified robots under industrial robot categories. The refinement of the tariff code, now an eight-digit number, resolves the product "identity" issue, providing clear guidelines for export enterprises in customs clearance, statistics, and policy alignment. This institutional "micro-innovation" has cleared the path for domestic companies to better access global markets.

In summary, with exports of the "new three" products and high-tech products from Shanghai ports growing by 45.6% and 24.2% respectively in the first five months, Shanghai's foreign trade performance is not merely a report card on industrial upgrading but also a reflection of the rising position of Chinese manufacturing in the global value chain.