General Import – Export Freight Service Guide for Dezhou
1. City Introduction
1.1 Geographical Location
Dezhou, located in Shandong Province, is in the northwest of Shandong. It serves as a crucial transportation hub connecting the north and south of the province. Although an inland city, Dezhou has a well – knit transportation network. The Beijing – Shanghai High – speed Railway and multiple expressways, like the Beijing – Taipei Expressway, pass through here, facilitating the transportation of goods to and from various regions. This advantageous location enables Dezhou to play a significant role in the regional logistics system, bridging the gap between local industries and international markets.
1.2 Economic Characteristics
Dezhou has a diverse economic structure. The manufacturing industry is one of its main economic pillars, covering sectors such as machinery manufacturing, chemical engineering, and new materials. The agricultural sector is also prosperous, with Dezhou being a major producer of grains, cotton, and vegetables in Shandong. The agricultural product processing industry has developed rapidly, processing and exporting a large amount of local agricultural products. In recent years, emerging industries such as e – commerce and modern logistics have been burgeoning, which has greatly increased the demand for import – export freight services.
1.3 Administrative Districts and Freight – related Areas
- Decheng District: As the core urban area, it is the political, economic, and cultural center of Dezhou. It houses numerous trading companies, e – commerce enterprises, and service – oriented businesses. The district mainly exports high – value – added consumer goods, high – tech products, and some cultural and creative products. It also imports advanced technologies and equipment to support local industrial development.
- Lingcheng District: It has a relatively strong industrial base, focusing on industries such as machinery manufacturing, food processing, and building materials production. Products from this district are exported both domestically and internationally. It imports a large quantity of raw materials, such as steel and agricultural products, to meet the production needs of local industries.
- Ningjin County: Renowned for its agricultural products, the county has a well – developed agricultural product processing industry, mainly processing and exporting grains, fruits, and vegetables. It also has some light manufacturing industries, such as the production of handicrafts. In terms of imports, it brings in agricultural – related production materials and some advanced agricultural machinery.
- Qingyun County: With a focus on modern agriculture and light industry, the county has a growing economy. It has a certain scale of food processing and textile industries. The county exports processed food products and textile products, and imports raw materials like cotton and food ingredients.
- Linyi County: It has a diversified economic structure, with manufacturing industries such as machinery manufacturing and chemical engineering. The county also has a prosperous agricultural product processing industry, mainly processing and exporting local specialties like peanuts and sweet potatoes. It imports some key components and raw materials for its manufacturing industries.
- Qihe County: It has a strong industrial foundation, especially in the fields of building materials and chemical engineering. The county exports building materials and chemical products, and imports raw materials such as limestone and chemical raw materials. It also has a certain scale of agricultural product processing, mainly processing and exporting local agricultural products.
- Pingyuan County: The county has a well – developed agricultural product processing industry, mainly processing and exporting grains, vegetables, and fruits. It also has some light manufacturing industries, such as the production of daily – use products. In terms of imports, it brings in agricultural – related production materials and some advanced production technologies.
- Xiajin County: Known for its cotton production, the county has a developed cotton – related industry chain, including cotton processing and textile production. It exports cotton products and textile products, and imports some advanced textile machinery and high – quality cotton varieties.
- Wucheng County: It has a certain scale of manufacturing industries, such as the production of auto parts and machinery equipment. The county also has a prosperous agricultural product processing industry, mainly processing and exporting local specialties like dates and cucumbers. It imports some key components and raw materials for its manufacturing industries.
- Laoling City: It has a relatively strong industrial base, with industries such as food processing, chemical engineering, and machinery manufacturing. The city exports processed food products, chemical products, and machinery products, and imports raw materials like food ingredients, chemical raw materials, and steel.
- Yucheng City: The city has a diversified economy, with a focus on the pharmaceutical, food, and machinery industries. It exports pharmaceutical products, food products, and machinery products, and imports raw materials such as pharmaceutical intermediates, food ingredients, and key components.
2. Port and Airport Information
2.1 Port / Sea Freight
2.1.1 Port Selection
Dezhou mainly relies on nearby coastal ports such as Tianjin Port and Qingdao Port for international trade. These ports are connected to Dezhou through a combination of highways and railways. The expressways and railways ensure the smooth transportation of goods, enabling Dezhou to access international markets efficiently.
2.1.2 Port Information
- Tianjin Port: One of the largest comprehensive ports in northern China, it has numerous deep – water berths. It is equipped with advanced automated loading and unloading equipment and large – scale warehousing facilities. The port has a highly efficient customs clearance system, which can handle a large volume of goods quickly. It can handle various types of goods, including bulk cargo, containers, and general cargo.
- Qingdao Port: A large – scale port with a wide range of functions, it has modern berths and an efficient cargo – handling system. It is especially known for its handling of bulk cargo such as coal and iron ore, as well as its container – handling capabilities. It has a comprehensive logistics service system, which is beneficial for Dezhou’s import – export trade.
2.1.3 International Routes
- Asia: There are regular shipping services to major Asian ports, such as Busan in South Korea, Tokyo in Japan, and Singapore. Exports from Dezhou mainly include industrial products, agricultural products, and light – industrial products. Imports are mainly high – tech components, high – quality consumer goods, and some special raw materials.
- Europe: Regular liners connect Dezhou (through the above – mentioned ports) with ports like Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg in Germany, and Antwerp in Belgium. The city exports high – value – added products from its emerging industries, such as high – tech machinery and new – material products. It also imports advanced technologies and equipment from European countries to support the upgrading of local industries.
- North America: Shipping connections have been established with ports such as Vancouver in Canada and Los Angeles in the United States. Various products, including industrial products, agricultural products, and some light – industrial products, are transported.
2.2 Air Freight
Dezhou does not have an international airport. It mainly relies on Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, which is about 120 kilometers away. Air freight is suitable for transporting high – value and time – sensitive goods, such as high – tech products, fresh – keeping agricultural products, and some high – end consumer goods. Local logistics companies cooperate with Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport to provide door – to – door air freight services.
2.3 Inland Transportation Modes
- Road Transportation: The road network in Dezhou is well – developed, with national highways and provincial roads connecting all districts and counties. Road transportation is suitable for short – distance and small – batch cargo transportation. Logistics enterprises can provide door – to – door services, which is very convenient for the transportation of small – quantity goods and the last – mile distribution of imported and exported goods.
- Railway Transportation: The railway network in Dezhou is constantly being improved. It can connect to major domestic railway trunk lines, facilitating the transportation of large – batch and long – distance cargo. Railway transportation can be seamlessly connected with sea freight through the connection with coastal ports, enabling the large – scale transportation of goods both domestically and internationally.
- Inland Waterway Transportation: Although Dezhou is an inland city, there are some small – scale inland waterways in the area that can be used for the transportation of bulk cargo such as building materials and some agricultural products within a certain range. These inland waterways play a role in connecting inland areas and promoting regional trade.
3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
3.1 Cost – related
3.1.1 FCL and LCL (Sea Freight)
- FCL Transportation Costs: Mainly include basic ocean freight, which is affected by factors such as transportation distance, cargo type, and container size. There are also port handling fees, document fees, and surcharges due to oil price and exchange rate fluctuations. For example, the basic ocean freight for a 40 – foot container from Dezhou (through Tianjin Port) to a European port may range from several thousand to tens of thousands of US dollars.
- LCL Transportation Costs: In addition to the basic ocean freight being apportioned proportionally, there is also an LCL service fee, covering cargo consolidation and distribution costs. There are additional warehousing, sorting, and repackaging costs due to the mixed loading of goods. It is charged based on the larger of weight or volume, and there may be additional unpacking and delivery fees at the destination port.