The Ministry of Commerce recently released the fifth batch of best practice cases from the nation's pilot free trade zones (FTZs). A new intensive supervision model for international mail, international express, and cross-border e-commerce services, submitted by the Hunan Pilot FTZ Changsha Area, was shortlisted.

The Hunan Pilot FTZ Changsha Area has promoted the intensive use of equipment and human resources for international mail, international express, and cross-border e-commerce businesses, allowing the same operating entity to handle the three businesses at one stop. The move has further improved customs clearance efficiency and opened up a convenient channel for postal logistics.

Thanks to this institutional innovation, the Hunan Pilot FTZ Changsha Area has seen an improvement in its service supervision efficiency. Currently, it is possible to achieve the speedy customs clearance of 3,000 inbound and outbound packages per hour, and the daily processing capacity has increased from more than 20,000 pieces to 70,000 pieces. 

Additionally, the comprehensive operating cost has been reduced, and the overall transportation cost of postal enterprises has been down by more than 25%. In 2021 and 2022, the operating cost of major logistics and cross-border e-commerce enterprises has decreased by 11.38% year on year, and their business volume has increased by 34.01% year on year.

The cross-border e-commerce industry has achieved cluster development. Postal enterprises now have direct international mail routes to 23 countries and regions, and have cooperated with Cainiao Network, the smart logistics arm of e-commerce firm Alibaba Group, and other operating enterprises. Since the implementation of reform and innovation measures in April 2020, the Changsha International Mail Exchange Bureau has handled over 22 million inbound and outbound mail, express, and cross-border e-commerce parcels. Among them, more than 16 million cross-border e-commerce parcels have been exported through postal routes.

Source: en.changsha.gov.cn