A promotion conference of the Hunan's comprehensive bonded zones and international trade channels was held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on May 31, 2023.
The operation and logistic companies of the Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal transport service reached a cooperation agreement with Guangzhou Port and Yantian Port to initiate "Hunan-Guangdong All-in-One Port" service. This service will further improve customs clearance efficiency and lower logistics costs of enterprises.
Based on the "Hunan-Guangdong All-in-One Port" service, the coastal ports and international land port in inland areas will share the coastal port UN/LOCODE and thus integrate freight transport by sea and by rail into a whole. It is an important clearance mode for the construction of the Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal transport channel. Through this service, enterprises can go through customs clearance procedures in Zhuzhou and make a reservation for international freighter shipment, to ensure smooth cargo transport for enterprises. Thus, the respective logistics advantages of coastal ports and inland railway stations can be leveraged, and the flow of imported and exported goods between inland and coastal areas will be facilitated.
The Hunan Department of Commerce (Office of Port Administration of the Hunan Provincial People's Government), and the Chansha, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen customs authorities will join hands to promote the "Hunan-Guangdong All-in-One Port" service and boost regional cooperation. They will work together to extend the business of coastal ports to inland areas, and develop a "one-stop" international logistics channels service platform for Hunan enterprises.
In recent years, Hunan has established a freight assembly center and five international trade channels – eastward, southward, northward, westward, and by air. Among these channels, southward cargo has the largest volume. Hunan has been developing Zhuzhou as a primary assembly center connected with Hengyang and Chenzhou's Hunan-Guangdong-Africa channels. This has resulted in a 30% cut in freight rates, and helped an array of Hunan enterprises, such as the Xiangtan branch of Geely Auto, develop their business in international markets.
The Changsha Huanghua Comprehensive Bonded Zone and the Hengyang Comprehensive Bonded Zone were promoted at the conference. The foreign trade volume of Hunan's comprehensive bonded zones and bonded logistics centers has increased by over 30% on average annually, and taken up about one fourth of the provincial total. The growth rate and trade structure have both surpassed the average performance of the bonded zones nationwide. The bonded zones have become a significant driving force for Hunan's open economy.