Data released at a press conference on February 4 on financial support for Hainan’s high-quality economic and social development showed that the province’s cross-border receipts and payments have continued to expand in recent years.

With a range of foreign exchange (FX) innovation measures taking effect, including pilot programs to further open up cross-border trade and investment, total cross-border flows reached USD 115.42 billion in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 6.1%. Total FX settlements and sales climbed to USD 24.99 billion, marking a 9.0% increase, while the foreign exchange market remained generally stable.

Press conference on financial support for Hainan’s high-quality development in 2025

Photo: Cao Zhi

In 2025, foreign-related receipts and payments under goods trade amounted to USD 50.12 billion. General trade constituted USD 18.89 billion, accounting for nearly 40% of the province’s total goods trade. Trade within bonded zones experienced moderate growth, with customs-supervised bonded logistics reaching USD 5.82 billion, representing a 0.2% increase year-on-year. Duty-free trade achieved USD 2.78 billion, signifying a substantial increase of 31.7%.

Trade in services witnessed a more rapid growth rate. Receipts and payments related to foreign services trade amounted to USD 7.04 billion, representing an increase of 10.3%. Transport services totaled USD 3.58 billion, reflecting a 12.6% rise; other commercial services amounted to USD 1.57 billion, an increase of 5.1%; and travel services amounted to USD 620 million, rising by 25.3%.

As an emerging hub for investment, the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) has experienced a notable increase in cross-border investment and financing activities. In 2025, the total receipts and payments under direct investment amounted to USD 53.55 billion, reflecting a 9.6% year-on-year growth. Outbound direct investment, foreign direct investment within China, and intercompany investment all exhibited varying levels of expansion. Notably, foreign direct investment rose significantly to USD 9.54 billion, representing a substantial increase of 32.5%.

The Hainan FTP’s cross-border receipts and payments are expected to maintain steady growth in 2026. It is projected that the expansion of goods and services trade within the current account will revert to more normalized levels, while activities within the capital account are expected to become more active, supported by fund pool operations and a progressively vigorous investment and financing landscape across the province.