Yiwu-Ningbo-Zhoushan corridor opens, boosting trade efficiency

Customs officials inspect containers. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

China's inland-to-coast logistics took a major step forward with the launch of the Yiwu-Ningbo-Zhoushan multimodal customs transit corridor. The first shipment — containers of Yiwu-made small commodities — recently made its way to Africa via rail, road, and sea integration.

Departing from Yiwu, the cargo traveled on a freight train to the Beilun rail terminal at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. Under the supervision of Ningbo Customs, it was transferred to road transport and sent to the Yongzhou container terminal for overseas shipment.

This new transit model addresses previous logistical bottlenecks. "Yiwu's African-route market share exceeds 30 percent, but most vessels dock at the Jintang port area in Zhoushan. Previously, shipments involved multiple customs procedures and high costs," said Zhang Bin of Zhejiang Beyond Supply Chain Management Co Ltd. Now, customs clearance is completed in Yiwu, saving over 10 percent in logistics costs with this model.

Customs officials in Ningbo, Yiwu, and Zhoushan collaborated to ensure seamless supervision and rapid resolution of transit anomalies. Meanwhile, digital integration across customs, ports, and railway departments has improved data transparency and reduced the workload for companies. 

The corridor is part of the Yiwu-Ningbo-Zhoushan Open Passage project, linking inland and coastal hubs through efficient multimodal transport. It not only improves export convenience for Yiwu businesses but also strengthens Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's global reach as the world's largest port by cargo throughput.