Published by ChinaMNC · Sajia

Jiangsu's Small-Product Export Surge: Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders in China

Jiangsu's foreign trade grew 29.8% in the first three quarters. For foreign founders, the province's success in small products like hotel linens, sleep aids, and holiday goods reveals actionable strategies for export success in China.

Jiangsu's Export Boom: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

According to Nanjing Customs, Jiangsu's total foreign trade reached RMB 5.69 trillion in the first three quarters of this year, up 29.8% year-on-year—11 percentage points higher than the national average. While large equipment plays a role, the spotlight is on how Jiangsu's "small products" are driving "big exports." For foreign founders setting up or operating a company in China, these success stories offer practical lessons.

Hotel Linens: Quality and Tariff Advantages

Jiangsu Kangnaixin Textile Technology Co., Ltd. exemplifies how quality and trade policy combine. Their hotel linens are soft, skin-friendly, and durable—lasting up to 18 months before gradual replacement. Using the same yarn density, they consistently produce high-quality products that win orders from renowned hotel groups worldwide.

A key factor is the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area certificate of origin issued by Huai'an Customs, which reduced their tariff from 12% to zero. This significantly lowered import costs for clients, helping the company retain existing customers and open new markets. From January to August, the company's export value reached RMB 180 million.

The company also customizes products for different markets: pool towels and colored towels for Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa that resist intense sunlight and pool conditions without fading; and waterproof aromatic down duvet inserts with exclusive deodorization technology for high-end hotels.

Takeaway for founders: Leverage China's free trade agreements to reduce costs for your customers. Certificates of origin can be a competitive advantage when exporting from China.

Sleep Aids: Tapping Consumer Trends

Suzhou Jili Silk Co., Ltd., a time-honored brand in Zhenze, Wujiang, identified consumer demand for comfortable, light-blocking sleep environments and developed a silk cooling weighted eye mask. The mask caters to complete darkness for sleep while offering cooling, breathability, softness, and pressure relief. Since launch, monthly sales have consistently exceeded 100,000 units, and from January to September, export value of silk eye masks more than doubled year-on-year. The company's total export sales account for 65% of overall sales, with products reaching 46 countries and regions.

Suzhou Opple Lighting Co., Ltd. broke through traditional lighting limitations to create sleep-aid lamps. Their patented lotus-color light sleep-aid technology extracts a special pale pink tone from a vast spectrum, optimizing spectral bands to support melatonin secretion and create a relaxed pre-sleep environment. Combined with preferential origin policies, the company's exports have continued to improve this year.

Takeaway for founders: Identify niche consumer needs and innovate products that address them. Use intellectual property protection and trade policies to strengthen your market position.

Holiday Goods: Cost Reduction and Speeding Up Customs

As autumn arrives, export orders for Christmas items like ribbons and bells enter peak delivery. Yangzhou Anbeisi Toy Co., Ltd. is producing Christmas plush toys for the ASEAN market. With China-ASEAN certificate of origin issued by Yangzhou Customs, these toys enjoy a 10% tariff preference locally. In the first three quarters, the company applied for 23 free trade agreement certificates, saving nearly RMB 300,000 in import duties. Yangzhou Customs supervised exports of toys worth about RMB 1.52 billion and issued 367 certificates of origin under various FTAs.

Beyond policy relief, faster customs clearance is crucial. Taizhou Feiyan Crafts Co., Ltd. is rushing to produce Christmas-themed crafts like feather boas and angel wings. Customers generally require delivery a month earlier this year; after shipping Christmas goods, the company will immediately switch to Easter products. In the first three quarters, Taizhou Customs supervised exports of Christmas decorations worth RMB 1.7378 million, up 96.17% year-on-year.

At Pengyunxin General Merchandise in Changshu, ribbons and bells are bestsellers. Using market procurement trade, goods can be consolidated without waiting and reach destinations in about a month. Changshu Customs has created a "transit + integration" dual-channel clearance model, allowing market procurement goods to be exported via 149 ports nationwide, with clearance as fast as 22 minutes from declaration to release.

Takeaway for founders: Utilize free trade agreements and efficient customs procedures. Market procurement trade offers flexibility for small-batch exports.

Lotus Root: From Fresh to Processed

In Baoying County, lotus root harvest is underway. Yangzhou Tiancheng Food Co., Ltd. exports lotus root products, with export value exceeding RMB 28 million in the first three quarters and orders booked into early next year. Yangzhou Customs supervised exports of lotus root and products worth over RMB 100 million, up about 3% year-on-year. The company has shifted from primary fresh sales to deep processing, turning lotus root into boiled, salted, and quick-frozen products sold to Southeast Asia, Europe, and America.

Takeaway for founders: Upgrade products through processing to capture higher value and diversify markets.

How Foreign Founders Can Benefit

• Leverage FTAs: Obtain certificates of origin to reduce tariffs for your customers, making your products more competitive.
• Focus on niche products: Small, innovative items can drive significant export growth.
• Use customs facilitation: Explore market procurement trade and fast-track clearance to speed up deliveries.
• Customize for local markets: Adapt products to regional preferences and conditions.
• Upgrade along the value chain: Move from raw to processed goods to increase margins.

These examples show that with the right strategies, foreign founders can successfully export from China. For assistance with company registration and operations in China, contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp/WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.