The new model has reduced customs clearance time for cross-border e-commerce exports by more than 50 per cent and lowered comprehensive business costs by over 30 per cent on its first day of operation. The initiative is expected to enhance efficiency in one of China’s busiest export hubs, according to Shenzhen’s commerce bureau.
Shenzhen has introduced its first ‘inspect first, load later’ supervised site, cutting cross-border e-commerce export clearance time by over 50 per cent and reducing overall business costs by more than 30 per cent.
Enabled by digital twin, smart gate and traceability technologies, the model improves inspection efficiency, shipment tracking and overall logistics flow.
Under the revised process, individual items are first moved into a supervised site where they undergo customs inspection and clearance before being packed into containers. This marks a shift from the traditional system where a single flagged shipment could delay the clearance of an entire container.
The new facility integrates advanced technologies including digital twin systems, smart gates, and code-based traceability. Each shipment is assigned a unique, tamper-proof ‘digital ID’, ensuring full visibility and traceability across the supply chain. The site is also equipped with smart shelves, automated sorting lines, and inspection robots to enable faster and more efficient operations.
Shenzhen continues to dominate China’s cross-border e-commerce landscape, ranking first among major cities in transaction volume for four consecutive years. The city is home to 16 of the world’s top 20 e-commerce platforms and accounts for one-third of China’s publicly listed cross-border e-commerce companies.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)
