Profiles of China Provinces, Cities and Industrial Parks

Major Economic Indicators

Notes:  ¹ In real terms   ² For all state-owned enterprises and other forms with annual sales over RMB 5 million  
Sources: Heilongjiang Statistical Yearbook 2011, China’s Customs Statistics,12.2010, 9.2011

General Background

Heilongjiang – abbreviated as Hei（黑）– is situated in China’s northeast corner just next to the far-east region of Russia, with an adjoining border of over 3,000 kilometers. Heilongjiang has a total area of 454,000 sq. km. Total resident population stood at 38.3 million in 2010. Harbin is the provincial capital and other major cities include Qiqihar, Daqing and Mudanjiang.

The province’s deposits of gold and graphite are among the largest in China. Other significant mineral and metal deposits include silver, copper, lead, aluminum, tungsten, zinc, molybdenum, crude oil, coal, wood, soda, quartz, marble and mica. The province also ranks first in the production of petroleum which is mainly found in Daqing Oilfield, the oldest and largest oilfield of China. In 2010, production of crude oil in the Daqing Oilfield was 40 million tones, remaining the first in China.

In recent years, plans are underway to improve the infrastructure for border trade as Heilongjiang’s importance is set to be enhanced as Sino-Russian relationship and cooperation strengthen.

Industries

Owing to its fertile soil and unpolluted black earth fields, Heilongjiang is one of the most important grain production bases in China, with a total farmland area of 11.5 million hectares. Heilongjiang has 4.3 million hectares of grassland, making it an important area for animal husbandry in China. Green food industry has been developing rapidly in Heilongjiang. Major green food products are milk, rice and soy bean products.

Composition of GDP (%)

Source: Heilongjiang Statistical Yearbook, 2011

In line with the central government’s policy in revitalizing the Northeast old industrial bases, Heilongjiang is now restructuring its four pillar industries, namely equipment manufacturing, petrochemical, food processing, energy.  The gross industrial output of the four pillar industries amounted to RMB845.5 billion in 2010, grew by 35%, accounting for 85% of the total gross industrial output.  Among these four pillar industries, the output of the equipment manufacturing grew by 23.7% in 2010, petrochemical grew by 37.4%, energy up 32.4% and food processing surged by 48.6%.

Major Industry Groups (2009)

Source: Heilongjiang Statistical Yearbook 2011

State-owned industrial enterprises still play an important role in the province’s industrial development. In 2010, 11.2% of industrial enterprises in Heilongjiang were state-owned and state-holding, but they accounted for 57.9% of the total gross industrial output value.

Tourism

Heilongjiang has abundant and unique tourist resources with clear seasonal distinction, such as Yabuli skiing site（亞布力滑雪場）, Wudalianchi（五大連池）, Jingpohu（鏡泊湖）. It is reputed as the “cool province” in china, and becomes a renowned tourist attraction, both in summer or winter.

In 2010, the number of domestic tourists reached 157 million (+44.8%), with tourism receipts of RMB83.2 billion (+37.3%).  The number of overseas tourists reached 1.65 million (+22.1%), with the foreign exchange revenue of US$763 million (+19.4%).  

Foreign Trade

Because of geographical proximity, Heilongjiang’s trade tie with Russia is strong. Border trade amounted to US$5,018 million in 2010, or 19.7% of the province’s total trade. The annual trade fair in Harbin is well established. Trade with Russia amounted to US$7.5 billion in 2010, 29.3% of total trade. Japan, the US, South Korea and Germany were other major trading partners.

Major export goods included garments, clothing accessories, mechanical and electrical products, footwear, yarns, fabrics, cereals and cereals flour, etc. Its exports to Hong Kong stood at US$314 million in 2010.

Major imports included mechanical and electrical products, logs, crude oil, paper pulp, plastic in primary form, and manufactured fertilizers etc.

Compared with other provinces in the coastal regions, Heilongjiang’s foreign trade is less reliant on foreign-invested enterprises: FIEs only accounted for 4.3% of the total exports and 4.5% of the total imports in 2010.

Foreign Direct Investment

Sectors that received the largest share of utilized direct foreign investments included manufacturing (57.6% of the total value), production and distribution of electricity, gas and water (11.6%), real estates (8.2%) in 2010.

In 2010, Hong Kong is Heilongjiang’s largest source of foreign investment. Hong Kong actually invested a total of US$974.7 million, accounting for 36.6% of the total utilized FDI.

Consumer Market

In 2009, annual per capita disposable income of urban households was RMB13,857 (+10.3%). Major consumer markets are located in Harbin and Daqing. Heilongjiang also acts as a gateway for consumer products to enter the markets of Russia and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Composition of Per Capita Expenditure of Urban Households (%)

Source: Heilongjiang Statistical Yearbook, 2011

Major department stores and shopping centres in Heilongjiang include Heilongjiang Daqing Department Store, Harbin Qiulin Co. Ltd., Harbin Central Commercial City and Harbin Department Store. Large retailers come from outside include Carrefour from France, Walmart from the US, Metro from Germany and Gome from Beijing etc.

Economic Indicators of Major Cities (2010)

* For all state-owned and other forms of enterprises with annual sales over RMB 5 million
Source: Heilongjiang Statistical Yearbook, 2011