Automatic Sealing System Accelerates Export of Yiwu Small Commodities

China Inspection and Quarantine Times - On September 18, a container truck from Yiwu Dexiang International Logistics Co., Ltd. entered a dedicated automatic sealing lane at the exit of a Customs supervision zone at Yiwu Port after completing cargo loading. The entire sealing process took only 18 seconds, marking the official launch of the automatic sealing system in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province.

Developed jointly by Hangzhou Customs and Ningbo Customs, the automatic sealing system is a key component of Hangzhou Customs’ “Smart Logistics” framework, designed to enhance the efficiency of transshipment procedures for small commodity exports. Integrating advanced technologies such as RFID, IoT, and AI-based image recognition, the system automatically identifies, verifies, and applies electronic seals. As loaded trucks pass through designated gates, high-definition cameras automatically capture and identify the electronic lock data. This data is then cross-checked in real time against the Customs declaration. Upon successful verification, the system automatically applies the electronic seal, with the entire process requiring no manual intervention.

As the “Sixth Port Area” of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Yiwu Port serves as a major channel for small commodity exports. According to statistics from Yiwu Customs, a subsidiary ofHangzhou Customs, Yiwu’s exports through market procurement trade totaled 402.62 billion yuan in the first eight months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 27.3 percent. Notably, exports shipped via Ningbo reached 251.71 billion yuan, rising 11.1 percent and accounting for 62.5 percent of the total during the same period. The port handles an average of 2,000 TEUs per day, peaking at up to 4,000 TEUs.

“With the automatic sealing system, sealing time per container has been reduced to about 20 seconds, improving efficiency by approximately 80 percent. This enables 24/7 automatic sealing for Yiwu’s transshipped small commodities via Ningbo Port,” said the head of the First Supervision Department of Yiwu Customs.

“A significant portion of goods from our terminal are transported by container trucks to Ningbo for export via Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, requiring transshipment sealing. This system has greatly enhanced our operational efficiency,” said Li Yanyun, Business Department Manager of Zhejiang Yiwu Port Co., Ltd. “Initial estimates indicate that transit time per lane has been cut to one-fifth of previous levels. Once the system is extended to all eight lanes, overall terminal efficiency is expected to increase by 20%.”

As a major achievement in Hangzhou Customs’ efforts to build a smart Customs system and optimize the port business environment, the automatic sealing system represents an initial practice of “Smart Logistics.” It not significantly improves clearance efficiency but also reduces human error through automated verification, thereby enhancing security and supervision.

A Hangzhou Customs official stated that the agency will seize opportunities presented by comprehensive international trade reforms, driven by both technology and institutional innovation. Further efforts will be made to deepen the application of intelligent technologies and innovate management models. By advancing the “Smart Logistics” initiative, Hangzhou Customs aims to optimize export logistics, strengthen collaboration with Ningbo Customs, support the development of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port’s “Sixth Port Area,” and create an efficient, secure, and intelligent clearance environment for small commodity exports. (Correspondent: He Gangmiao)