Cross-border goods. [Photo/Xizang Business Daily]

Xizang autonomous region's foreign trade recorded robust growth in 2025. According to Lhasa Customs, the total value of the region's goods imports and exports reached 8.47 billion yuan ($1.21 billion), exceeding the foreign trade growth target set under the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).

Supported by market demand and favorable policies, Xizang's foreign trade entities continued to expand. A total of 226 enterprises engaged in import and export activities in 2025, up 12.4 percent year-on-year.

Private enterprises remained the backbone of foreign trade, accounting for 85.7 percent of the total, while foreign-invested enterprises posted particularly strong performance, with trade surging sharply and market potential accelerating.

Xizang's trade structure became more diversified, diversifying from a strong reliance on border trade to multiple forms of trade. General trade, including cross-border e-commerce, emerged as the main growth driver, while processing trade achieved a breakthrough from zero, filling a long-standing gap. Border trade and bonded logistics also developed steadily.

Leveraging its geographic advantages, Xizang continued to strengthen its role as an important gateway to South Asia, supported by an increasingly integrated rail-road-air logistics network. In 2025, more Chinese-made new energy vehicles and specialty products were exported to South Asian markets through Xizang.

Meanwhile, the region expanded trade ties with 155 countries and regions, with Nepal, Australia, and Germany ranking as its top partners. Exports of distinctive local products, including fine wool yarn, wine, and Tibetan incense, rose sharply.