Pingyuan taps manufacturing strength to boost foreign trade

Pingyuan county in Dezhou city, Shandong province, is emerging as a hub for industrial growth and foreign trade, driven by the global ambitions of leading local manufacturers and strengthened by supportive government initiatives.

Among the county's top enterprises is Lianhetech, a major producer of lithium-based chemical products. Since acquiring and upgrading a local chemical plant in 2012, the company has steadily advanced its research capabilities and global outreach. Its efforts culminated in 2023 with the launch of a 1.1 billion yuan ($153.4 million) project to produce 30,000 metric tons of high-grade lithium salts annually – key components for lithium-ion batteries used in more than 400,000 electric vehicles each year.  

Shandong Fuyang Biotechnology Co, another local leader and the county's largest taxpayer, has cemented its position as the world's top producer of sodium gluconate, with a 40 percent share of the global market. Fuyang has established marketing offices across China and built strong links with partners in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. 

The local government has played a crucial role in enterprise development. Logistics subsidies and infrastructure upgrades – such as enhanced customs operations and multimodal transport via Dezhou International Land Port – have improved export efficiency and reduced costs.

To date, the Pingyuan economic development zone has attracted $5.36 million in foreign investment. This marks a 33 percent increase year-on-year, which underscores the region's rising profile in global trade. (Edited by Du Xiaping)