An aerial view of the Cross-Border E-commerce Customs Supervision Center in Pingtan county, Fuzhou, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the Cross-Border E-commerce Customs Supervision Center in Pingtan county, Fuzhou, Fujian province, handled bonded imports cleared into the domestic market worth more than 25.1 billion yuan ($3.68 billion). Direct purchase exports to Taiwan reached 26.2 billion yuan, with 38.71 million parcels processed, while its bonded import business ranked first in the province for several consecutive years.

The 6,200-square-meter facility serves as a key hub for goods from the Chinese mainland sold to consumers in Taiwan via platforms such as Taobao and Shopee. Since completing its first export shipment in January 2023, the center has integrated declaration, inspection, and sealing processes into a single-site workflow.

Logistics efficiency is driven by Taipei Express, a Ro-Ro vessel that operates three times weekly. The 68-nautical-mile crossing between Pingtan county and Taiwan takes 5.5 hours, allowing for same-day customs clearance and next-day delivery. In 2024, the county launched a sea-air intermodal logistics model, transporting goods to Taipei Port for immediate transfer to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, reaching European and US markets within 24 hours.

To accelerate throughput, the center utilizes an automated digital sealing system. Remote verification via mobile applications has reduced container sealing times from hours to roughly 10 seconds. Security is maintained through smart locks integrated with customs tracking systems, providing real-time GPS data from the warehouse to the vessel.

The National Development and Reform Commission has added Pingtan to the 2025 national logistics hub construction list.