On March 12th, in the production workshop of Shandong Exploration Metal Products Co., Ltd. located on Dongcheng Street in Linqu County, Weifang City, laser cutting machines precisely cut aluminum profiles, with the sound of metal cutting intertwined with the sound of machinery operation, creating a symphony of progress. In the finished product area, boxes of aluminum art products labeled "USA", "Germany", and "France" are about to be shipped across the ocean to global markets.
"We secured 20 million orders just at the beginning of the year, with foreign trade orders accounting for over 90%, and the orders have already been booked until April! Three production lines are running 24 hours a day, and everyone is going all out to achieve a good start in the first quarter." Holding the order ledger, Wang Feng, the general manager of the company, spoke with a sense of practical confidence and vigor for progress.
The booming orders of a company are a testament to the foreign trade performance of a county. As an inland county without access to the sea or border, why can Linqu continue to make strides in the foreign trade export arena and achieve a good start in the first quarter? The answer lies in the combined efforts of a well-established industrial cluster and precise government service support. In 2026, the first meeting of Linqu's new spring season focused on the core objectives of "attracting projects, serving enterprises, and optimizing the environment", unleashing strong development momentum, setting a tone of hard work and striving for excellence for the county's development in the first quarter, and activating a pool of spring water for the high-quality development of the county's foreign trade.
The foundation of industrial clusters is the core strength that enables Linqu to venture into the global foreign trade market. The competitiveness of county-level economies often lies in the depth and breadth of characteristic industries. Known as the "Capital of Aluminum Industry in China", Linqu has, after years of deep cultivation, formed a high-end aluminum industrial cluster with an annual output value exceeding 45 billion yuan. The "aluminum profile products industrial cluster" has been rated as the first national-level characteristic industrial cluster of small and medium-sized enterprises in Weifang City, establishing a full industrial chain system from aluminum profile raw materials, processing technology to supporting accessories and end products. The development strategy of "based on aluminum, extending aluminum, and surpassing aluminum" has enabled Linqu's aluminum industry to break away from the single raw material processing mode, forming a well-equipped and ecologically mature industrial closed loop, which has become the strongest support for local enterprises to venture into the international market.
When it comes to exploring metals, the advantages of industrial clusters are evident in every aspect of development. "Aluminum profile raw materials, spraying processes, and various supporting accessories can all be sourced in one place within the county, eliminating the need to travel outside for procurement. This significantly reduces logistics costs and shortens the delivery cycle by half, instantly enhancing our core competitiveness," said Wang Feng, echoing the consensus of many enterprises in the Linqu aluminum industry.
Relying on a complete industrial chain support, enterprises do not need to expend energy on upstream and downstream links, allowing them to focus on deepening product research and development and market expansion. In the company's sample display area, dozens of aluminum art doors and guardrails are dazzling, with construction-grade aluminum materials that do not rust or deform for more than 10 years, precisely adapting to the cold climate of North America and the rainy climate of Europe. With 1,000 self-designed molds, it can precisely meet the personalized customization needs of overseas customers... With excellent product quality and high cost performance, the company's products are exported to many countries and regions such as North America, Europe, and Australia. In 2025, the output value jumped to 126 million yuan, and in the beginning of 2026, orders were booming. To match the bulk demand of overseas markets, the company plans to introduce welding robots and CNC equipment this year, promoting a 2-3 times increase in production capacity through intelligent transformation, and continuously expanding the global market in the "smart manufacturing" upgrade.
The precise guarantee of government services serves as a solid backing for the rapid development of foreign trade in Linqu. Enterprises are the mainstay of the market, while the government acts as the navigator of development. Linqu has always adhered to the development philosophy that "the prosperity of the county depends on the prosperity of enterprises, and the strength of the county lies in the strength of enterprises". It regards serving enterprises as the core essence of development, and with the high-level deployment of the first meeting of the new spring in 2026, it has translated the requirements of "serving enterprises and optimizing the environment" into tangible actions, paving a fast track for foreign trade enterprises to go global.
From deepening the normalized activity of "visiting enterprises extensively" to implementing the rapid response mechanism of "enterprises whistle, cadres report", Linqu has always been thinking and solving problems from the perspective of enterprises. From promoting the "enjoyment without application and direct enjoyment" of preferential policies for enterprises to setting up a special fund of 20 million yuan for technological transformation every year and carrying out actions such as "capacity expansion for 100 enterprises" and "digital transformation and intelligent transformation", Linqu has provided real financial support to help enterprises enter the market with ease. In response to the pain points and difficulties in the development of foreign trade, Linqu has implemented precise measures and targeted efforts. It has established a county-level enterprise "going global" association, integrated resources across the entire chain such as customs declaration, logistics, and translation, provided one-stop services for enterprises to go global, and provided free export credit insurance for small and medium-sized foreign trade enterprises, helping them to wear a "risk safety belt" when going global.
The dividends of policies ultimately translate into tangible development results. In 2025, Linqu was successfully designated as a national base for foreign trade transformation and upgrading, achieving a total import and export volume of 9.3 billion yuan for the year and cultivating 25 new foreign trade entities. The "Smart Connect 100 Schools, Talent Gathering in Linqu" initiative precisely matched 26 universities and colleges, providing ample talent support for enterprise development. The county has identified a total of 145 "specialized, refined, unique, and innovative" enterprises, single-item champions, and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises at or above the provincial level, and has included 288 technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises in its database. The output value of high-tech industries accounts for 66% of the total.
Not located near the sea, it can connect to the global market; situated in the inland, it dares to venture into the world. Behind Linqu's positive start in foreign trade in the first quarter lies the synchronized resonance between industrial clusters and government services, as well as the mutual pursuit of hard work, competitiveness, and innovative development. Presently, Linqu is striving ahead with a pioneering spirit and a momentum akin to thousands of horses galloping, taking the lead step by step on the track of high-quality development. It aims to bring more "Made in Linqu" products out of the country and into the world, laying a solid foundation and making a good start for the development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
