Hechi Freight Forwarders: Powering International Trade with Seamless Import and Export Freight
General Import and Export Freight Service Guide for Hechi, Guangxi
I. City Introduction
1.1 Geographical Location
Hechi is located in the northwestern part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is surrounded by mountains and is part of the Karst landform area. Although it is an inland mountainous city, Hechi has been gradually improving its transportation infrastructure. Expressways and national highways connect it to other cities in Guangxi, such as the Hechi – Nanning Expressway. Also, it can reach major ports in the Beibu Gulf region through road and railway connections, which is essential for its participation in international trade.
1.2 Economic Characteristics
Hechi has a diverse economic structure. The mining industry is an important part of its economy, with rich mineral resources such as tin, lead, and zinc. The processing of these minerals has formed a certain industrial scale. The agricultural sector is also significant, with the cultivation of various crops like rice, corn, and tea, as well as the development of livestock breeding. The agricultural product processing industry, including tea processing and livestock product processing, has been developing. In addition, the tourism industry is emerging, with unique natural scenery and ethnic cultural resources attracting tourists. With the growth of e-commerce and international trade, the demand for import and export freight services in Hechi is gradually increasing.
1.3 Administrative Districts and Freight-related Areas
- Jinchengjiang District: As one of the urban centers of Hechi, Jinchengjiang District is a hub for commercial activities, service industries, and some light manufacturing. It houses many trading companies and service providers. The district mainly exports some processed products from the local manufacturing and agricultural industries, such as small mechanical parts and processed agricultural products like tea products. It also plays a role in the distribution of goods in the city and imports some advanced technologies and equipment for local development.
- Yizhou District: Yizhou District has a certain industrial foundation, focusing on industries such as the processing of agricultural products, the manufacturing of light industrial products, and the development of cultural and tourism products. The district exports processed agricultural products like fruit jams, handicrafts with local cultural characteristics, and some light industrial products. It imports advanced agricultural processing technologies, high-quality raw materials for handicrafts, and modern tourism development concepts.
- Nandan County: Nandan County is known for its rich mineral resources and mining industry. It focuses on the mining and processing of minerals such as tin and lead. The county exports mineral products and some processed metal products. It imports advanced mining technologies, high-quality mining equipment, and environmental protection facilities for sustainable mining development.
- Tian’e County: Tian’e County emphasizes the development of the agricultural product processing, the forestry industry, and the tourism industry. The county exports processed agricultural products, forestry products like bamboo-based products, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced agricultural and forestry processing technologies, tourism development facilities, and high-quality packaging materials.
- Fengshan County: Fengshan County has a focus on the development of the agricultural product processing, the production of traditional handicrafts, and the tourism industry. The county exports processed agricultural products, traditional handicrafts made from local materials, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced agricultural processing technologies, high-quality raw materials for handicrafts, and modern marketing concepts.
- Donglan County: Donglan County is famous for its red tourism resources and agricultural production. It focuses on the development of the agricultural product processing, the tourism industry, and the production of traditional Chinese medicine materials. The county exports processed agricultural products, traditional Chinese medicine products, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced agricultural and traditional Chinese medicine processing technologies, tourism development resources, and high-quality seeds.
- Luocheng Mulao 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 raw materials for handicrafts.
- Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County: Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County has a diversified economic structure, with a focus on industries such as the processing of agricultural products, the production 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, high-quality raw materials for building materials, and modern tourism development concepts.
- Bama Yao Autonomous County: Bama Yao Autonomous County is renowned for its longevity culture and tourism resources. It focuses on the development of the tourism industry, the processing of agricultural products, and the production of health products. The county exports processed agricultural products, health products, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced tourism development resources, high-quality raw materials for health products, and modern marketing strategies.
- Du’an Yao Autonomous County: Du’an Yao Autonomous County emphasizes the development of the agricultural product processing, the manufacturing of handicrafts, and the tourism industry. The county exports processed agricultural products, handicrafts, and some tourism-related products. It imports advanced agricultural processing technologies, high-quality raw materials for handicrafts, and tourism development facilities.
- Dahua Yao Autonomous County: Dahua Yao Autonomous County has a focus on the development of the agricultural product processing, the production 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, high-quality raw materials for building materials, and modern tourism development concepts.
II. Port and Airport Information
2.1 Ports / Sea Freight
2.1.1 Port Selection
As an inland city, Hechi 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 and provide access to global shipping routes. Through road and railway transportation, Hechi can transport goods to these ports for export and import.
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 Hechi.
- 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 can handle a large volume of cargo, including containers, bulk commodities, and petrochemical products. It plays an important role in the transportation of goods between China and ASEAN countries.
- 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 Hechi’s trade with Southeast Asian countries and other regions.
2.1.3 International Routes
- Asia: Hechi’s goods are transported to major Asian ports such as Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur through the ports in Guangxi. Hechi exports agricultural products, mineral products, and some handicrafts 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. Hechi exports high-value-added products from the mining 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
Hechi Jinchengjiang Airport provides domestic flight services. However, for international air freight, Hechi mainly relies on Nanning Wuxu International Airport and other nearby airports. These airports have stronger air freight capacities, with modern cargo handling facilities. They can handle high-value and time-sensitive goods such as high-tech products, fresh agricultural products, and high-value handicrafts. Local logistics companies cooperate with these airports to provide door-to-door air freight services for Hechi.
2.3 Inland Transportation Modes
- Road Transportation: The road network in Hechi is gradually improving, 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: Hechi is connected to the national railway network, and railway transportation 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 Hechi is influenced by multiple factors. The basic ocean freight depends on the destination port. For example, shipping a 40-foot container of mineral products 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 hazardous mineral products may require special handling and additional safety measures, 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 Hechi, 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.