A celadon stall in Longquan, a county-level city in Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/IC]

The sword and celadon industry in Longquan, a county-level city in Lishui, Zhejiang province, recorded strong overseas growth, with self-operated exports reaching 51.79 million yuan ($7.75 million) in the first eight months of 2026, up 49.5 percent year-on-year.

At Zhejiang Zhengshi Sword Co, lines producing Western-style swords and anime-inspired blades for European and American markets ran at full capacity. Self-operated exports rose 23 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters.

Zheng Weiping, chairman of the company, said manufacturers must adapt their products to changing market demands and take overseas consumers' aesthetic preferences into account when bringing traditional Chinese products to international markets.

Zhengshi Sword invests over 1 million yuan annually in R&D, develops differentiated products, and regularly attends professional exhibitions to learn about overseas trends.

Datang (Longquan) Celadon Co has shifted from traditional daily-use porcelain to flower vessels suited to East Asian and Southeast Asian home preferences. Foreign trade now accounts for 30 percent of total sales, and some of its celadon vase designs have sold more than 30,000 units overseas.

According to the celadon and sword industry bureau of Longquan, the city plans to expand its presence in overseas markets, support new forms of international trade, and encourage local companies to invest more in R&D and develop their own brands.