The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region. [Photo/IC]

Xizang autonomous region recorded a total foreign trade value of 3.85 billion yuan ($535 million) from January to May, a year-on-year increase of 13.2 percent. This growth outpaced the national average by 10.7 percentage points and was the 8th highest among China's provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions.

Lhasa and Shigatse remained the key drivers, contributing 59.7 percent and 39.5 percent respectively to the region's overall trade. Shigatse, in particular, saw a notable 43.3 percent surge, reaching 1.52 billion yuan.

Lhasa Customs has been focusing on enhancing trade services by promoting intellectual property protection and supporting brand development for local industries. In Shigatse, targeted policies allowed for the customs registration of intellectual property rights for highland specialties like barley products, Tibetan incense, iced tea, and mineral water.

So far in 2025, Shigatse has added 15 newly registered foreign trade enterprises, bringing the total to 135.

Looking ahead, Lhasa Customs aims to leverage Shigatse's land port hub and deepen collaboration with bonded zones and border ports, streamlining logistics and boosting exports of local products to expand Xizang's global footprint.