The Definitive Guide to Import and Export Freight Services into/from Zhoushan, Zhejiang：Enabling Global Business Growth
2. City Introduction
2.1 Geographical Location
Zhoushan, located in Zhejiang Province, East China, is a unique city consisting of numerous islands. It is strategically positioned at the intersection of the Yangtze River Estuary and the Hangzhou Bay, adjacent to Shanghai and Ningbo. This prime location makes it a natural gateway for international trade in the region. Surrounded by the sea, Zhoushan has a vast coastline with numerous natural harbors, providing excellent conditions for port – based activities. The city is connected to the mainland through bridges and ferry services, and it also has a growing transportation network that includes roads, waterways, and air links, which are crucial for its import and export freight operations.
2.2 Economic Characteristics
Zhoushan has a distinct economic structure, with a strong focus on marine – related industries. The port – related industries are a significant pillar of its economy. Ningbo – Zhoushan Port, one of the largest ports in the world, is a major driver of economic growth. The port handles a large volume of cargo, including containers, bulk commodities such as oil, coal, and iron ore, and liquid chemicals. This has spurred the development of industries such as port – logistics, warehousing, and ship – building. The ship – building industry in Zhoushan is highly developed, constructing various types of vessels, from large – scale container ships to specialized ships.
The marine fishery industry is also an important part of Zhoushan’s economy. With rich fishing grounds in the surrounding waters, the city is a major producer of marine products. Fresh and processed seafood, including fish, shellfish, and seaweed, are not only supplied to the domestic market but also exported to different countries. In addition, Zhoushan has a growing tourism industry, attracting visitors with its beautiful beaches, unique island scenery, and rich marine culture. Tourism – related products, such as handicrafts, souvenirs, and local specialties, are also part of the city’s exports. In recent years, emerging industries such as marine new energy, high – tech marine equipment, and marine – based e – commerce have started to develop, further fueling the demand for import and export freight services.
2.3 Administrative Regions and Freight – Related Areas
Zhoushan administers several regions, each contributing uniquely to the freight business:
- Dinghai District: As one of the main urban areas of Zhoushan, it serves as an important commercial and service center. The district has a large number of trading companies, business service providers, and commercial complexes. It is a major source of consumer goods for both the local market and export, especially high – end consumer electronics, fashion products, and luxury goods. The district also has some emerging e – commerce enterprises that contribute to the export of various products through online platforms. In addition, there are some high – tech start – ups in the district, focusing on software development, high – tech services, and some high – tech product manufacturing, which contribute to the export of high – value – added products. Dinghai also has a certain number of port – related service enterprises, supporting the operation of the port.
- Putuo District: It has a strong focus on the port, tourism, and marine – fishery industries. The district is home to many port – operation companies, logistics enterprises, and shipping agencies. It plays a crucial role in the export of goods through the port, especially in handling the transportation of marine products and some industrial products. The tourism industry in Putuo is also very prosperous, with many scenic spots attracting a large number of tourists. Tourism – related products, such as handicrafts, souvenirs, and local specialties, are exported. In addition, Putuo has a large number of marine – fishery processing enterprises, processing and exporting fresh and processed seafood.
- Daishan County: Rich in marine resources, it is a major exporter of marine products and some port – related products. The county has a large number of fishing vessels and marine – fishery processing plants, producing and exporting a variety of fresh and processed seafood. It also has some ship – building and ship – repairing enterprises, exporting ship – building and ship – repairing services and some ship – related products. In addition, Daishan has a growing tourism industry, and tourism – related products such as handicrafts and souvenirs are also part of its exports.
- Shengsi County: Known for its beautiful island scenery and rich marine resources, it is a major exporter of marine products and tourism – related products. The county has a large number of fishing ports and marine – fishery production bases, exporting fresh and processed seafood. It also has a vibrant tourism industry, attracting a large number of tourists with its unique island scenery. Tourism – related products, such as handicrafts, souvenirs, and local specialties, are exported. In addition, Shengsi has some emerging marine – related industries, such as marine new energy and high – tech marine equipment, which contribute to the export of high – value – added products.
3. Port and Airport Information
3.1 Port / Sea Freight
3.1.1 Port Selection
Zhoushan mainly relies on Ningbo – Zhoushan Port for international trade. Ningbo – Zhoushan Port is a large – scale comprehensive port with a long – standing history and modern facilities. It has established connections with major international ports around the world, providing a wide range of shipping services. The port is composed of multiple port areas in Zhoushan, each with its own characteristics and functions.
3.1.2 Port Information
Ningbo – Zhoushan Port has deep – water berths that can accommodate large – scale vessels, including ultra – large – crude – carriers (ULCCs), very – large – crude – carriers (VLCCs), and large – scale container ships. The port is equipped with advanced cargo – handling equipment, such as high – efficiency gantry cranes, automated container – handling systems, and specialized equipment for handling different types of goods. It has large – scale storage facilities, including warehouses, container yards, and specialized storage areas for bulk commodities. The port also has efficient customs – clearance facilities, which can handle the customs procedures for import and export goods quickly and smoothly.
3.1.3 International Routes
- Asia: Regular shipping services connect to major Asian ports such as Busan in South Korea, Tokyo in Japan, and Singapore. Zhoushan’s exports to Asia mainly include marine products, port – related products, and some light – industrial products. For example, Zhoushan exports seafood, ship – building services, and handicrafts to South Korea and imports some high – tech components from Japan.
- Europe: Regular container ships ply from Ningbo – Zhoushan Port to European ports such as Rotterdam and Hamburg. High – value – added products from Zhoushan’s emerging industries, such as high – tech marine equipment and some high – end ship – building products, are exported to Europe.
- North America: The port has established shipping connections with North – American ports such as Vancouver and Los Angeles. Goods such as marine products, industrial products, and light – industrial consumer goods from Zhoushan are transported to North America.
3.2 Air Freight
Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport provides air – freight services for the city. Although it is a regional airport, it offers a range of air – freight services, including express freight, general cargo transportation, and special – cargo handling.
- Fast and Efficient: Air freight can quickly transport high – value, time – sensitive goods from Zhoushan to major international destinations within a few hours to a day or two. This is especially suitable for products like high – tech marine components, precision marine instruments, and some fresh marine products with short shelf – lives.
- Cargo Types: Predominantly transports high – tech marine products (such as components for marine new energy and high – tech marine equipment), high – value – added marine products (such as premium – grade seafood), and some high – value – added industrial products (such as high – precision ship – building parts).
- Logistics Services: The airport cooperates with local logistics companies in Zhoushan to provide “door – to – door” services. Goods can be directly transported from factories or warehouses in Zhoushan to the airport and then swiftly delivered to the destination by air. It also offers value – added services such as cargo tracking, warehousing, and distribution.
3.3 Inland Transportation Modes
Zhoushan has a diverse set of inland transportation modes:
- Road Transportation: Ideal for short – distance and small – to – medium – batch cargo transportation. The road network in Zhoushan is constantly being improved, with roads connecting different islands and urban areas. Professional logistics companies offer “door – to – door” services, ensuring the quick transportation of goods from factories or warehouses to the port or airport. However, due to the island – based geographical features, road transportation may be limited in some areas.
- Waterway Transportation: Waterway transportation is an important mode in Zhoushan. Ferries and barges are used to transport goods between islands and to the mainland. This mode is suitable for the transportation of bulk goods, such as building materials, industrial raw materials, and some marine products. It also plays a crucial role in connecting different parts of Zhoushan and in international trade through the connection to the sea.
- Air Transportation: As mentioned before, Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport provides air – freight services. Although it has certain limitations in terms of cargo capacity compared to large international airports, it is very important for the transportation of high – value, time – sensitive goods.
4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
4.1 Cost – related
4.1.1 FCL and LCL (Sea Freight)
Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) are two common transportation modes in sea freight, and they have different cost structures:
- FCL Transportation Cost: The cost of FCL mainly includes basic ocean freight, which is determined by factors such as the distance of transportation, the type of goods, and the size of the container. Port handling charges cover the loading and unloading operations at the origin (Ningbo – Zhoushan Port) and destination ports. There are also document fees for handling necessary shipping documents, such as bills of lading and packing lists. Additionally, factors like bunker adjustment factor (BAF) and currency adjustment factor (CAF) may affect the overall cost, as they are adjusted according to international oil prices and exchange rate fluctuations.
- LCL Transportation Cost: LCL costs are more complex. In addition to a proportionate share of the basic ocean freight, it includes LCL service fees. These fees cover the costs of consolidating and distributing goods in the container. Since multiple shippers’ goods are combined in one container, there are additional charges for storage, sorting, and repackaging in the warehouse. LCL is usually charged based on the larger of the weight or volume of the goods, that is, “charging by the larger measure”. At the destination port, there may also be additional fees for unpacking and delivering the goods to the consignee.