The border province of Heilongjiang in northeastern China has recorded a foreign trade volume of 171.24 Milliarden Yuan (etwa 22 Milliarden Euro)—approximately 22 billion euros—during the first half of 2026, marking a 7.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year according to the Harbin customs authority. Known widely as China’s granary for its vast production of rice and soybeans, the region is actively expanding its specialized agricultural and industrial exports onto the global stage through cold-region resources and fertile black soil.
Angus Cattle Ranches and Australian Livestock Imports
In Sunwu County, local developers are building a large-scale breeding facility dedicated to Angus cattle. Wu Xiaoyun, brand director of the Heizun Beef (Heilongjiang) Industry Management Group, reports that over 4,000 Angus breeding cattle imported from Australia have arrived at the ranch this year. Each animal has received a formal identification tag to ensure strict traceability and breeding oversight. This initiative builds on previous trade efforts by the company, which first imported roughly 3,000 purebred Angus cattle from Australia back in 2016.
Cross-Border Grain and Soybean Distribution
Specialized agricultural products from Heilongjiang are making steady gains in international markets. Shengchang Seed Breeding Co., Ltd., based in Suihua, planted various proprietary rice varieties across more than 666,000 hectares throughout the province this season. The company has successfully exported its harvested rice into the Amur region of Russia, Mongolia, and Laos. Meanwhile, agricultural processors in Bei’an handle locally grown soybeans specifically for export distribution.
Feather Processing and Sporting Goods Manufacturing
Diversification defines the regional shift in rural manufacturing. The local goose industry has expanded its traditional operations beyond animal husbandry to include feather processing. Manufacturers now convert these feathers into badminton shuttlecocks, achieving an annual production capacity of 6 million balls. A portion of this sporting goods output is exported directly to South Korea.
Cross-Border Infrastructure and Trade in Heihe
At the pilot free-trade zone in Heihe, cross-border commerce centers facilitate the exchange of Russian soybeans, oats, and confectionery products across the international boundary. Trade volume in Heihe reached approximately 229 million yuan—roughly 29.4 million euros—in the first half of 2026. To further boost regional integration, construction on a cross-border cable car spanning the Sino-Russian border is underway, with trial operations expected to begin by the end of the year to provide a new cross-border transit option for travelers.
Worth a look
