Shenzhen maintained its position as the Chinese mainland's leading city for foreign trade in the first half of 2026, underscoring the strength of its export-driven economy and growing domestic demand.   According to the latest customs data, the southern technology hub recorded 2.88 trillion yuan (about 425 billion U.S. dollars) in total imports and exports between January and June, up 33 percent year on year. The city accounted for 11.3 percent of China's total foreign trade and 52.5 percent of Guangdong Province's overall trade during the period.   Exports reached 1.51 trillion yuan, an increase of 15.5 percent from a year earlier, remaining the highest among all mainland cities. Meanwhile, imports surged 60 percent to 1.37 trillion yuan, highlighting robust import growth alongside resilient export performance.   The latest results reinforce Shenzhen's role as one of China's key international trade gateways. The city has ranked first among mainland cities in foreign trade for two consecutive years since 2024.