In the first half of 2025, China's foreign trade navigated headwinds with surprising resilience. According to China Customs, the country's total imports and exports surpassed RMB 20 trillion, hitting a record high for the same period. Growth accelerated in Q2, with total trade rising 4.5% year-on-year—3.2 percentage points faster than in Q1. Behind this steady climb lies a quiet but powerful force: state-backed financial support.

China Exim Bank, the country's leading policy bank for foreign trade, has emerged as a crucial enabler in this rebound. From January to June, the bank issued over RMB 610 billion in loans to the trade sector and RMB 420 billion to the manufacturing sector, including RMB 2,600 billion in medium- and long-term financing. The numbers are impressive, but the underlying strategy—targeted, tailored, and tech-enabled—is what truly sets the institution apart.

Private enterprises, which account for more than half of China's total foreign trade (57.3% as of H1 2025), are increasingly becoming the bedrock of export growth. To address their financing bottlenecks—particularly among small and midsize players—China Exim Bank launched a bespoke initiative titled Special Plan for Enhancing International Competitiveness of Private Enterprises. The plan includes 16 specific financial tools and policy measures designed to support companies expanding overseas or participating in Belt and Road initiatives.

In Guangdong, for example, Keda Manufacturing, a ceramic equipment exporter, leveraged the bank's “Export Credit Easy” solution to secure working capital based on future receivables. The move helped the company address long cash conversion cycles typical of large-scale export contracts. “Unlike traditional factoring, this product offers long-term liquidity solutions aligned with our operational needs,” a company executive noted.

Similarly, in Beijing, Exim Bank tailored a multi-faceted financing package for YHLO Biotech, which exports medical devices to Southeast Asia and Europe. The suite combined export seller's credit, foreign exchange services, country risk assessments, and bank acceptances—each matched to the company's regional strategies and growth phases. “Their deep experience in supporting innovation-driven exporters makes them a strategic partner in our global roadmap,” said Gao Chengwei, the company's Deputy GM.

The bank's impact extends beyond headline-grabbing industrial giants. In Quanzhou's inland port of Jinjiang—a key logistics node and export channel for over a hundred micro and small enterprises—Exim Bank has been instrumental in upgrading supply chain infrastructure. Its layered lending structure supports everything from intermodal transport to digital customs clearance, enabling seamless connections between inland producers and overseas markets.

Take the Jinjiang Fast Parcel Center as an example. Exim Bank's financing helped the hub expand digital services such as customs filing and certificate-of-origin issuance. “Each loan we received directly addressed the real needs of our SME clients. It gave us the confidence to build more stable and responsive logistics services,” said Li Yuanyuan, the center's operations head.

In Shandong, Exim Bank recently rolled out its risk-sharing sub-loan model for cross-border e-commerce startups, injecting capital into businesses previously overlooked by traditional lenders. By co-financing with local financial institutions, the bank lowers credit barriers and shares default risks, particularly for new exporters in digitally-driven trade formats.

As global trade pivots toward agile and diversified models, Exim Bank has positioned itself as a financier of the future. Nowhere is this more evident than in Kazakhstan, where Shanghai YaShi Investment has partnered with the bank to construct a 36,000-square-meter overseas warehouse at Aktau Port. The facility integrates bonded logistics, light assembly, and regional redistribution services, creating a launchpad for Chinese goods heading into Central Asia and beyond.

“Warehouses like this reduce shipping costs and delivery times, but the upfront investment is massive,” said project manager Fan Bing. “Exim Bank not only offered long-term construction loans, but also committed to support us through currency hedging and cross-border payments once operations begin.”

The bank's “Overseas Warehouse+” initiative exemplifies its comprehensive approach. Rather than limit support to individual firms, it seeks to finance entire ecosystems—from first-leg transportation and customs declaration to day-to-day operations—offering holistic support to all stakeholders in the cross-border supply chain.

According to bank officials, these efforts are anchored in a six-pillar strategy covering strategic planning, policy guidance, model research, product innovation, financial consulting, and performance evaluation. “Our goal is not just short-term financing, but long-term competitiveness for emerging trade models,” one executive said.