Guilin Freight Forwarders: Powering International Trade with Seamless Import and Export Freight
General Import and Export Freight Service Guide for Guilin, Guangxi
I. City Introduction
1.1 Geographical Location
Guilin is located in the northeastern part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. It is renowned worldwide for its unique karst landscape. Geographically, Guilin is connected to other major cities through a network of expressways, such as the Guilin – Nanning Expressway and the Guilin – Yangshuo Expressway, which enhance its land transportation capabilities. Although it is an inland city, it has access to seaports via road and railway connections, facilitating its participation in international trade. The Li River, which runs through the city, also plays a role in local water transportation for certain types of goods.
1.2 Economic Characteristics
Guilin has a diverse economic structure. The tourism industry is a major pillar, attracting millions of domestic and international tourists each year with its natural beauty and cultural heritage. In addition to tourism, the manufacturing industry is also developing, focusing on sectors such as the production of electronic components, machinery, and food processing. The city has a rich agricultural base, with the cultivation of various crops like rice, citrus fruits, and tea. The agricultural product processing industry, including tea processing and fruit canning, has a certain scale. With the growth of e-commerce and international trade, the demand for import and export freight services in Guilin is steadily increasing.
1.3 Administrative Districts and Freight-related Areas
- Xiufeng District: As one of the central urban areas of Guilin, Xiufeng District is a hub for commercial activities, tourism services, and cultural industries. It houses many trading companies, tourism agencies, and cultural institutions. The district mainly exports high-value-added products in the service and cultural sectors, such as tourism-related services, handicrafts, and cultural products. It also plays a role in the distribution of goods processed in the city, including agricultural products and some manufacturing goods.
- Diecai District: Diecai District has a certain industrial foundation, focusing on industries such as the manufacturing of electronic components, the processing of agricultural products, and the production of building materials. The district exports electronic components, processed agricultural products like canned fruits and tea products, and some building materials. It imports advanced manufacturing technologies, high-quality raw materials for the manufacturing and building materials industries, and modern production equipment.
- Xiangshan District: Xiangshan District is an important area for tourism and commerce in Guilin. It has a large number of tourist attractions and commercial centers. The district focuses on the development of the tourism service industry, the manufacturing of handicrafts, and the processing of agricultural products. It exports handicrafts, processed agricultural products, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced tourism development concepts, high-quality raw materials for handicrafts, and modern marketing strategies.
- Qixing District: Qixing District is known for its high-tech industries and educational institutions. It has a concentration of high-tech enterprises, research institutions, and universities. The district exports high-tech products, such as electronic information products, new materials, and biotechnology products. It imports advanced technologies, high-quality raw materials for high-tech industries, and international talent for research and development.
- Yanshan District: Yanshan District has a focus on the development of the agricultural product processing industry, the manufacturing of building materials, and the tourism industry. The district exports processed agricultural products, building materials, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced agricultural processing technologies, high-quality raw materials for building materials, and tourism development facilities.
- Lingui District: Lingui District is an emerging area for industrial development and urban expansion in Guilin. It has a diversified economic structure, with a focus on industries such as the manufacturing of machinery, the processing of agricultural products, and the production of electronic products. The district exports machinery products, processed agricultural products, and electronic products. It imports advanced manufacturing technologies, high-quality raw materials for the manufacturing and agricultural processing industries, and modern production equipment.
- Yangshuo County: Yangshuo County is famous for its beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural heritage. It focuses on the development of the tourism industry, the production of handicrafts, and the processing of agricultural products. The county exports handicrafts with local characteristics, processed agricultural products like citrus-based products, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced tourism development resources, high-quality raw materials for handicrafts, and modern marketing concepts.
- Lingchuan County: Lingchuan County emphasizes the development of the agricultural product processing, the manufacturing of building materials, and the forestry industry. The county exports processed agricultural products, building materials, and some forestry products like bamboo-based products. It imports advanced agricultural and forestry processing technologies, high-quality raw materials for building materials, and modern production equipment.
- Quanzhou County: Quanzhou County has a large-scale agricultural production base and a certain industrial foundation. It focuses on the development of the agricultural product processing industry, the manufacturing of machinery, and the production of traditional Chinese medicine materials. The county exports processed agricultural products, machinery products, and traditional Chinese medicine products. It imports advanced agricultural and traditional Chinese medicine processing technologies, high-quality raw materials for the manufacturing industry, and modern production equipment.
- Xing’an County: Xing’an County is known for its historical and cultural heritage and its agricultural and industrial development. It focuses on the development of the agricultural product processing, the manufacturing of building materials, and the tourism industry. The county exports processed agricultural products, building materials, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced agricultural processing technologies, tourism development facilities, and high-quality raw materials for building materials.
- Yongfu County: Yongfu County focuses on the development of the agricultural product processing industry, especially the processing of tea and sugarcane. The county also has a certain scale of the manufacturing industry. It exports tea products, sugar products, and some manufacturing products. It imports advanced agricultural processing technologies, high-quality raw materials for the manufacturing industry, and modern production equipment.
- Guanyang County: Guanyang County emphasizes the development of the agricultural product processing, the production of traditional handicrafts, and the tourism industry. The county exports processed agricultural products, traditional handicrafts, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced agricultural processing technologies, high-quality raw materials for handicrafts, and tourism development resources.
- Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County: This county focuses on the development of the agricultural product processing, the production of ethnic handicrafts, and the tourism industry. It exports processed agricultural products, ethnic handicrafts, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced agricultural and handicraft processing technologies, tourism development facilities, and high-quality packaging materials.
- Ziyuan County: Ziyuan County has a focus on the development of the agricultural product processing, the forestry industry, and the tourism industry. The county exports processed agricultural products, forestry products, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced agricultural and forestry processing technologies, tourism development resources, and high-quality raw materials for handicrafts.
- Pingle County: Pingle County has a diversified economic structure, with a focus on industries such as the manufacturing of building materials, the processing of agricultural products, and the production of handicrafts. The county exports building materials, processed agricultural products, and handicrafts. It imports advanced manufacturing technologies, high-quality raw materials for the manufacturing and agricultural processing industries, and modern production equipment.
- Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County: Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County focuses on the development of the agricultural product processing, the production of traditional Yao handicrafts, and the tourism industry. It exports processed agricultural products, traditional Yao handicrafts, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced agricultural and handicraft processing technologies, tourism development facilities, and high-quality raw materials for handicrafts.
- Lipu City: Lipu City is an important industrial and agricultural area in Guilin. It has a well-developed manufacturing industry, especially in the fields of food processing, building materials production, and the manufacturing of handicrafts. The city also has a large-scale agricultural production base. It exports food products, building materials, handicrafts, and agricultural products. It imports advanced manufacturing technologies, high-quality raw materials for the manufacturing and agricultural industries, and modern production equipment.
II. Port and Airport Information
2.1 Ports / Sea Freight
2.1.1 Port Selection
As an inland city, Guilin mainly relies on ports in Guangxi, such as Beihai Port, Qinzhou Port, and Fangchenggang Port, for international sea freight. These ports are part of the Beibu Gulf Port Group, which provides access to global shipping routes. In addition, for some specific trade needs, Guilin may also use ports in neighboring provinces.
2.1.2 Port Information
- Beihai Port: Beihai Port is a major port in Guangxi. It has multiple berths for handling different types of cargo, including containers, bulk cargo, and liquid cargo. The port is equipped with modern cargo handling equipment and has a relatively complete logistics support system. It has established shipping routes with many ports in Asia, Europe, and other regions, enabling the import and export of goods from Guilin.
- Qinzhou Port: Qinzhou Port is a key port in the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone. It has deep-water berths and advanced container handling facilities. The port plays an important role in the transportation of goods between China and ASEAN countries. It can handle a large volume of cargo, including containers, bulk commodities, and petrochemical products.
- Fangchenggang Port: Fangchenggang Port is a multi-functional port with strong capabilities in handling bulk cargo, especially minerals and energy resources. It also has container handling services and is expanding its international shipping routes. The port is crucial for Guilin’s trade with Southeast Asian countries and other regions.
2.1.3 International Routes
- Asia: Guilin’s goods are transported to major Asian ports such as Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur through the ports in Guangxi. Guilin exports agricultural products, handicrafts, and some manufacturing products to these ports. It imports high-tech components, advanced production equipment, and high-quality consumer goods from Asia.
- Europe: Regular liner services reach ports like Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Hamburg in Germany through transshipment at major international ports. Guilin exports high-value-added products from the manufacturing and agricultural product processing industries to Europe.
- North America: Shipping connections have been established with ports such as Vancouver in Canada and Los Angeles in the United States. The transported products include industrial products, agricultural products, and some handicrafts.
2.2 Air Freight
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport provides domestic and international flight services. It has a certain air freight capacity and can handle high-value and time-sensitive goods such as high-tech products, fresh agricultural products, and high-value handicrafts. The airport has established air freight connections with major airports in Asia, Europe, and other regions. Local logistics companies cooperate with the airport to provide door-to-door air freight services for Guilin.
2.3 Inland Transportation Modes
- Road Transportation: The road network in Guilin is well-developed, with expressways, national highways, and provincial roads crisscrossing the city. It is suitable for short-distance and small-batch cargo transportation. Logistics enterprises can provide door-to-door services, which is very convenient for the distribution of consumer goods and small-scale industrial products within the city and to neighboring areas.
- Railway Transportation: Guilin is connected to the national railway network. The railway can be used for large-batch and long-distance cargo transportation. It can be connected with sea freight through the railway-port connections, facilitating the transportation of large-scale industrial products and raw materials to and from ports.
III. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
3.1 Cost-related
(See the original content for 3.1.1 FCL and LCL (sea freight) details)
FCL Transport Costs: The cost of full-container-load (FCL) shipments from Guilin is influenced by multiple factors. The basic ocean freight depends on the destination port. For example, shipping a 40-foot container of handicrafts to a European port will have a different base cost compared to shipping to a port in Southeast Asia. The type of goods also affects the cost; for instance, transporting fragile handicrafts may require special handling and packaging, increasing the cost. Port handling fees vary among different ports. At Qinzhou Port, the handling fee for a standard FCL includes charges for container loading, unloading, and short-term storage. Documentation fees cover the preparation of essential shipping documents such as the bill of lading, commercial invoice, and packing list. Surcharges like the bunker adjustment factor (BAF) due to oil price fluctuations and currency adjustment factor (CAF) due to exchange rate changes can significantly impact the overall cost.
LCL Transport Costs: In less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments from Guilin, the basic ocean freight is shared among multiple shippers based on their cargo volume or weight. LCL service fees include the cost of consolidating and de-consolidating goods at the origin and destination ports. Before consolidation, the goods are stored in a warehouse, sorted, and sometimes repackaged, incurring additional costs. These fees are charged based on the greater of weight or volume. At the destination port, there may be extra charges for de-stuffing the container and delivering the goods to the consignee. The overall LCL cost also depends on the origin and destination ports, as well as the type of goods being shipped.