In 2025, Huai'an's total import and export value was RMB 64.55 billion, an increase of 6.4% over the same period last year, marking the sixth consecutive year of growth since 2020. The export value was RMB 54.73 billion, up 10.5%.

The export of advantageous products was stable. In 2025, the export of mechanical and electrical products in Huai'an reached RMB 32.23 billion, up 13%. Among them, the exports of three 100-billion-level emerging industrial products, such as new generation information technology products, "new three" products (new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar cells), automobiles, and spare parts, were RMB 9.08 billion, RMB 8.93 billion, and RMB 4.98 billion, up 29.6%, 8.8%, and 4.7% respectively. The export of six categories of labor-intensive products, including textiles and garments, plastic products, and furniture, reached RMB 10.89 billion, up 0.3%. The recovery of prices and the increase in orders led to the export value of chemicals reaching RMB 4.14 billion, up 4.8%.

Diversified trade partners made progress together. In 2025, Huai'an traded with 199 countries and regions worldwide. Specifically, imports and exports to ASEAN were RMB 13.66 billion, an increase of 6.5%. Imports and exports to emerging markets such as the Middle East and Africa totaled RMB 3.68 billion and RMB 2.89 billion, up 19.4% and 7.8%, respectively. Solar cells, petroleum machinery, glass tableware, clothing, shoes, and boots were very popular. Imports and exports to 156 countries along the Belt and Road reached RMB 33.6 billion, up 7.5%, with foreign trade accounting for 52.1%.

Foreign trade entities continued to expand. In 2025, there were 1,557 foreign trade enterprises with import and export performance in Huai'an City, an increase of 110 or 7.6% over the same period last year. The import and export value of private enterprises was RMB 48.9 billion, up 7.3%, with foreign trade accounting for 75.8%, driving foreign trade growth by 5.5 percentage points. During the same period, the import and export value of foreign-invested enterprises was RMB 14.65 billion, up 3%. The import and export value of state-owned enterprises was RMB 990 million, up 12.7%.