The Definitive Guide to Import and Export Freight Services into/from Jilin City：Enabling Global Business Growth
2. City Introduction
2.1 Geographical Location
Jilin City, located in Jilin Province, Northeast China, is strategically located in the central – eastern part of the province. It lies along the Songhua River, which endows it with unique geographical advantages in transportation and trade. The city serves as a crucial transportation hub in the region, with a network of highways, railways, and waterways connecting it to other parts of the country and facilitating the flow of goods both domestically and for international trade.
2.2 Economic Characteristics
Jilin City has a diverse economic structure. It has a strong foundation in the petrochemical, automotive, and agricultural product processing industries. The petrochemical industry, centered around large – scale refineries and chemical plants, produces a wide range of products, from refined oil to chemical raw materials. The automotive industry manufactures various vehicles and auto parts, contributing to the global automotive supply chain. The agricultural product processing industry makes full use of the abundant local agricultural resources, turning grains, fruits, and livestock products into value – added products. In recent years, emerging industries such as new energy, high – tech, and modern logistics have also been developing rapidly. These industries generate a significant demand for import and export freight services, whether it’s importing advanced production equipment, high – quality raw materials, or exporting finished products.
2.3 Administrative Regions and Freight – Related Areas
Jilin City administers several regions, each contributing uniquely to the freight business:
- Changyi District: As a major commercial and transportation hub in Jilin City, it houses numerous trading companies, logistics parks, and transportation terminals. It is a major source of consumer goods for both the local market and export, especially daily – use products, clothing, and electronics. The district also has a large number of small and medium – sized enterprises engaged in light – industrial manufacturing, which rely on efficient freight services to transport their products.
- Longtan District: It has a long – standing industrial base, mainly in the petrochemical and chemical industries. There are large – scale petrochemical plants and chemical product processing factories. The district exports a large amount of petrochemical products, such as refined oil, chemical fertilizers, and plastic products. It also imports some special – purpose chemicals and advanced production equipment required for the petrochemical industry.
- Chuanying District: Focuses on the development of the service industry, including e – commerce, modern logistics, and business services. It is home to many e – commerce platforms and logistics service providers, which contribute to the export of high – value – added products such as digital products, software services, and e – commerce goods. The district’s modern logistics facilities play a key role in coordinating the transportation of these goods.
- Fengman District: Rich in natural resources and tourism resources, it is a major exporter of agricultural products and tourism – related products. The district produces high – quality grains, fruits, and livestock products. It also has some processing industries for agricultural products, such as food canning and fruit – juice production. Additionally, the tourism – related handicrafts and souvenirs are also exported.
- Yongji County: As an important agricultural county, it is a significant source of agricultural products. The county produces a large amount of grains, oilseeds, and vegetables. It also has some processing industries for agricultural products, such as starch production, food processing, and agricultural – by – product processing. These processed products are exported to various regions, both domestically and internationally.
- Jiaohe City: Known for its forestry resources and food processing, it exports a large amount of forest products, such as timber, wooden products, and forest – based handicrafts. The city also has a well – developed food processing industry, producing products like processed grains, fruits, and nuts. These products are in high demand both in the domestic and international markets.
- Huadian City: It has a growing industrial base, mainly in the fields of energy, building materials, and agricultural product processing. The energy – related products, such as electricity (generated from local power plants) and some coal – related products, are exported. The building materials produced here, such as cement, bricks, and tiles, are supplied to the local and neighboring construction markets. The agricultural product processing industry produces a variety of food products, including processed grains, dairy products, and meat products.
- Shulan City: Focuses on the agricultural product processing and light – industrial manufacturing industries. It is a major exporter of processed agricultural products, such as processed grains, fruits, and livestock products. The city also has some light – industrial factories that produce products like clothing, daily – use chemicals, and handicrafts.
- Panshi City: With a strong focus on the mining and building materials industries, it exports a large amount of mineral products, such as iron ore, limestone, and some processed metal products. The building materials produced here, such as cement and construction aggregates, are not only supplied to the local construction market but also exported to neighboring regions.
3. Port and Airport Information
3.1 Port / Sea Freight
3.1.1 Port Selection
Although Jilin City is an inland city, it is well – connected to nearby seaports. The closest major port is Dalian Port. Jilin City has established convenient transportation links to Dalian Port through a combination of road and railway transportation. Road transportation offers flexibility for small – to – medium – scale cargo shipments, allowing for door – to – door service. Railway transportation, on the other hand, is more suitable for large – volume and long – distance transportation, ensuring the efficient transfer of goods from Jilin City to international destinations via Dalian Port.
3.1.2 Port Information
Dalian Port is a world – class comprehensive port with a long – standing reputation. It has modern deep – water berths that can accommodate various large – scale vessels, including bulk carriers, container ships, and ro – ro ships. The port is equipped with advanced storage facilities, such as large – scale warehouses, modern container yards, and specialized storage areas for different types of goods. The cargo – handling equipment is state – of – the – art, with high – efficiency gantry cranes, automated container – handling systems, and advanced conveyor belts. These facilities ensure the efficient handling of large – volume cargo shipments, whether it’s transporting petrochemical products, agricultural products, or industrial goods.
3.1.3 International Routes
Dalian Port’s international routes cover many important regions:
- Asia: Regular shipping services connect to major Asian ports such as Busan in South Korea, Tokyo in Japan, and Shanghai in China. Jilin City’s exports to Asia mainly include petrochemical products, agricultural products, and some light – industrial products. For example, Jilin City exports refined oil and chemical fertilizers to South Korea and imports some high – tech components from Japan.
- Europe: Regular container ships ply from Dalian Port to European ports such as Rotterdam and Hamburg. High – value – added products from Jilin City’s petrochemical and high – tech industries, such as advanced chemical products and high – tech components, 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 agricultural products, petrochemical products, and light – industrial consumer goods from Jilin City are transported to North America.
3.2 Air Freight
Jilin City is relatively close to Changchun Longjia International Airport, which serves as a major air – freight hub for the region. 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 Jilin City to major international destinations within a few hours to a day or two. This is especially suitable for products like high – tech components, precision instruments, and some fresh agricultural products with short shelf – lives.
- Cargo Types: Predominantly transports high – tech products (such as components for the petrochemical and high – tech industries), high – value – added agricultural products (such as premium – grade grains and fresh fruits), and some high – value – added industrial products (such as advanced chemical products).
- Logistics Services: The airport cooperates with local logistics companies in Jilin City to provide “door – to – door” services. Goods can be directly transported from factories or warehouses in Jilin City 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
Jilin City 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 Jilin City is well – developed, with national highways, provincial roads, and urban roads connecting different regions. Professional logistics companies offer “door – to – door” services, ensuring the quick transportation of goods from factories or warehouses to the port or airport.
- Railway Transportation: Jilin City has a relatively complete railway network, with several major railway lines passing through the city. Railway transportation is suitable for large – batch and long – distance cargo transportation. It is characterized by high efficiency, low cost, and high punctuality. Through railway transportation, goods can be transported to Dalian Port or other domestic destinations, and can be seamlessly connected with sea freight. The railway network can handle various types of cargo, including petrochemical products, minerals, and agricultural products.
- Inland Waterway Transportation: Along the Songhua River, there are inland waterway transportation routes. These routes are mainly used for the transportation of bulk goods such as building materials, grains, and some petrochemical products within the region. The inland waterway transportation also plays a role in connecting Jilin City with other inland areas, providing an alternative and cost – effective transportation option for certain types of cargo.
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 (Dalian Port in this case) 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.