Shanghai has significantly boosted its cross-border e-commerce capabilities by fully operationalizing air, sea, and postal channels for global shipments. This development aims to enhance logistics efficiency and reduce costs for international e-commerce businesses.
These channels operate under the 9610 model, allowing e-commerce companies to ship goods overseas through third-party logistics providers. This model features simplified customs procedures, reduced costs, and increased operational flexibility, ideal for small parcels and frequent shipments.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport remains the primary channel for cross-border e-commerce air exports. From Jan 1 to Feb 25, Pudong Airport Customs supervised the export of 82.401 million cross-border e-commerce items valued at 11.24 billion yuan ($1.55 billion).
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport launched its export channel in September 2024, and it has since been extensively utilized by industry leaders. In January 2025, the airport handled 652.4 metric tons of cross-border e-commerce exports, a 60-percent increase from the previous month.
The maritime export channel for cross-border e-commerce, which opened in July 2024, has expanded the logistics chain and reduced shipping costs. Waigaoqiao Port, for instance, saw a notable increase in parcel volume, reflecting the channel's growing popularity.
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port Customs supervised over 250,000 cross-border e-commerce export parcels in the second half of 2024. This number reached nearly 160,000 parcels in January alone, indicating a significant increase in sea route usage by businesses.
The postal route for cross-border e-commerce exports began operating in May 2024, leveraging China Post's global network. By the end of January 2025, Shanghai Post Customs had supervised the export of 149,200 cross-border e-commerce parcels.
Shanghai's enhanced cross-border e-commerce infrastructure underscores its commitment to becoming a global logistics hub and supporting the growth of international e-commerce.
