From January to September, Chongchuan district recorded a total import and export value of 74.43 billion yuan ($10.46 billion), preserving its leading position among all regions in Nantong. Exported goods totaled 54.3 billion yuan, marking a 35.2 percent increase compared to the previous year. 

As of September, Chongchuan has experienced positive growth in import and export volume for 24 consecutive months, with over 10 percent growth in 17 of those months. 

Hardcore industries like shipbuilding, marine engineering, and integrated circuits have become a stable foundation for Chongchuan's growth in foreign trade. Data indicates that between January and September, Chongchuan's ship-related imports and exports increased by 48.5 percent, while exports of integrated circuits rose by 34.4 percent. 

The textile and apparel industry, which contributes 20 percent to the district's foreign trade, has experienced consistent 5 percent growth in the first nine months of this year. "Textile and apparel is a basic necessity industry with constant market demand. The crucial part is how companies capitalize on opportunities," said Zhu Fengchun, deputy director of the Chongchuan district bureau of commerce. 

The factory of Jiangsu Sanrun Garment Group. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline] 

Taking Jiangsu Sanrun Garment Group as an example, the company has accelerated its global expansion in recent years. It has set up four modern factories across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam, creating a production network throughout Belt and Road countries. In addition, this year, Sanrun expanded into the Spanish market by establishing a new subsidiary. 

As global purchasing habits quickly evolve towards AI-powered search and immediate responses, Chongchuan is proactively developing a digital transformation system that combines an "online platform + offline center". This effort is designed to ease the expansion of traditional foreign trade enterprises into international markets. 

The overseas incubation center, launched in the first half of this year, has supported nearly 200 enterprises in Nantong across 12 sectors, including mechanical manufacturing, textiles, apparel, and sporting goods, offering AI-driven end-to-end overseas solutions. 

Chongchuan has built an "online platform + offline center" digital transformation system to support companies reach international markets. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]