The total import and export value of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region reached 71.2 billion yuan ($10.3 billion) in the first two months of this year, marking a year-on-year growth of 36 percent, which is 17.7 percentage points higher than the national growth rate, according to Urumqi Customs District.

Imports and exports at Urumqi, Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture, Kashgar prefecture, and Bortala Mongolian autonomous prefecture accounted for 79.9 percent of Xinjiang's total foreign trade value. Aksu and Tacheng prefectures both exceeded 170 percent in growth rate.

The China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone recorded an import and export value of 21.28 billion yuan, an increase of 11.2 percent, accounting for 29.9 percent of the region's total. The Urumqi, Horgos, Alashankou (Alataw Pass), and Kashgar comprehensive bonded zones had an import and export value of 17.33 billion yuan, growing by 28.3 percent, accounting for 24.3 percent of Xinjiang's total.

Electromechanical products have become Xinjiang's largest export category, while metal ores and agricultural products drove import growth by 21.5 percentage points.

Exports through cross-border e-commerce increased by 142.7 percent. Imports through border trade grew by 225.7 percent. Exports of goods for international contracted projects and through market procurement trade increased by 320.9 percent and 230.5 percent, respectively.

Private enterprises saw an import and export growth of 38.1 percent, with their contribution to Xinjiang's overall foreign trade reaching 97.4 percent. Imports and exports of foreign-invested enterprises increased by 351.4 percent.

In the first two months of 2026, Xinjiang's imports and exports with its top three trade markets—the five Central Asian countries, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries, and Russia—grew by 5.7 percent, 181.4 percent, and 15.9 percent, respectively. These markets accounted for 51.7 percent, 13.4 percent, and 6.1 percent of Xinjiang's total trade, respectively.