The Definitive Guide to Import and Export Freight Services into/from Jinhua, Zhejiang：Enabling Global Business Growth
2. City Introduction
2.1 Geographical Location
Jinhua, located in the central part of Zhejiang Province, East China, occupies a strategic position within the province. It serves as a crucial transportation hub, connecting various regions within Zhejiang and beyond. Multiple expressways, such as the Shanghai – Kunming Expressway and the Shenyang – Haikou Expressway, intersect here, ensuring smooth land – based transportation. The Zhejiang – Jiangxi Railway also runs through Jinhua, enabling efficient long – distance freight transportation. Although Jinhua is an inland city, its well – developed transportation network allows it to establish seamless connections with coastal ports, facilitating international trade.
2.2 Economic Characteristics
Jinhua has a vibrant and diverse economic structure. The manufacturing industry forms a significant part of its economic backbone. The city is renowned for its production of a wide range of products, including machinery, hardware, and daily – use consumer goods. In the machinery manufacturing sector, Jinhua produces industrial machinery, agricultural machinery, and some specialized equipment. These products are not only sold in the domestic market but are also exported to different countries around the world. The hardware manufacturing industry in Jinhua is highly developed, with products ranging from construction hardware to daily – use hardware items, which are popular both at home and abroad.
The city is also famous for its e – commerce and trade – related activities. Yiwu, a county – level city under Jinhua’s jurisdiction, is globally recognized as a large – scale commodity trading center. It houses a vast number of small – commodity markets, where millions of different products are traded daily. These products include handicrafts, toys, stationery, and various consumer goods, which are exported to all corners of the world. In addition, Jinhua has a growing agricultural – product processing industry. The fertile land in the region yields abundant grains, fruits, vegetables, and livestock products. These agricultural products are processed into various food products, such as processed grains, canned fruits and vegetables, and meat products, which are also part of the city’s exports. In recent years, emerging industries such as new energy, high – tech, and cultural – creative have started to develop, further fueling the demand for import and export freight services.
2.3 Administrative Regions and Freight – Related Areas
Jinhua administers several regions, each contributing uniquely to the freight business:
- Wucheng District: As the core urban area of Jinhua, it functions as an important commercial and service center. The district is home to a large number of trading companies, business service providers, and commercial complexes. It serves as a major source of high – end consumer goods for both the local market and export, including luxury goods, high – tech consumer electronics, and fashion products. The district also has some emerging e – commerce enterprises that contribute to the export of various products through online platforms. Additionally, there are high – tech start – ups in the district, focusing on software development, high – tech services, and high – tech product manufacturing, which contribute to the export of high – value – added products.
- Jindong District: It has a relatively developed industrial base, mainly in the fields of mechanical and electrical manufacturing, light – industry, and new – energy. Factories in this district produce industrial machinery, electrical appliances, light – industrial products such as daily – use chemicals and handicrafts, and some new – energy – related products. These products are exported to different regions, both domestically and internationally. The district also imports advanced production equipment, high – quality raw materials, and technologies to support local industries.
- Wuyi County: It has a diverse economic structure, with a focus on the manufacturing, agricultural, and tourism – related industries. The manufacturing industry in Wuyi produces industrial products such as machinery, building materials, and some high – tech products. The county is also an important agricultural area, producing high – quality grains, fruits, and vegetables. These agricultural products are processed and exported. In addition, Wuyi has a growing tourism industry, and tourism – related products such as souvenirs and handicrafts are also part of its exports.
- Pujiang County: Known for its crystal handicrafts and printing and packaging industries, Pujiang is a major exporter of these products. The county has a large number of crystal – processing enterprises, producing a wide variety of crystal handicrafts, from decorative items to high – end artworks. The printing and packaging industry in Pujiang also thrives, with products being exported to meet the packaging needs of various industries. In addition, Pujiang has some light – industrial manufacturing, contributing to the export of products like daily – use chemicals and textiles.
- Pan’an County: Rich in natural resources, Pan’an is a major exporter of agricultural products and some forest – related products. The county has agricultural production bases that produce high – quality grains, fruits, vegetables, and tea. These agricultural products are processed and exported. It also has forest – product processing enterprises that export products such as bamboo products, wooden products, and forest – based chemicals. In addition, Pan’an has a growing tourism industry, and tourism – related products such as souvenirs and handicrafts are also part of its exports.
- Lanxi City: It has a well – developed manufacturing base, especially in the fields of textiles, chemical industry, and machinery. The city exports a large amount of textile products, chemical products, and machinery products. It also imports some high – tech components and raw materials to support its manufacturing industries. For example, the textile industry imports high – quality cotton and advanced textile – manufacturing equipment.
- Yiwu City: As a global – scale small – commodity trading center, Yiwu exports a vast array of small – commodity products. These include handicrafts, toys, stationery, daily – use consumer goods, and many other items. The city has a large number of trading companies and e – commerce enterprises, which play a crucial role in promoting international trade. Yiwu also imports some raw materials and components required for the production of small – commodities.
- Dongyang City: It has a strong focus on the manufacturing and cultural – creative industries. The manufacturing industry in Dongyang produces products such as building materials, auto parts, and some high – tech products. The city is also well – known for its cultural – creative industry, especially in the fields of film and television production, handicrafts, and artworks. These cultural – creative products are exported to different regions, both domestically and internationally.
- Yongkang City: Known as the “Hardware Capital of China,” Yongkang has a highly developed hardware manufacturing industry. The city exports a large amount of hardware products, including construction hardware, daily – use hardware, and industrial hardware. It also imports some high – quality raw materials and advanced manufacturing equipment to support its hardware – manufacturing industry.
3. Port and Airport Information
3.1 Port / Sea Freight
3.1.1 Port Selection
Although Jinhua is an inland city, it has access to several ports for international trade. The main ports it relies on include Ningbo Zhoushan Port, Shanghai Port, and Wenzhou Port. Jinhua has established convenient transportation links to these ports through a combination of road, railway, and water – borne 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. Inland waterway transportation, though limited compared to some coastal regions, still plays a role in transporting bulk goods to the ports.
3.1.2 Port Information
- Ningbo Zhoushan Port: A large – scale comprehensive port with deep – water berths that can accommodate various large – scale vessels, including bulk carriers, container ships, and ro – ro ships. It 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. The port has large – scale storage facilities, including warehouses and container yards, to ensure the proper storage and management of goods. It also has efficient customs – clearance facilities, which can handle the customs procedures for import and export goods quickly and smoothly.
- Shanghai Port: One of the largest ports in the world, it offers a wide range of shipping services to all major international ports. It has a large number of deep – water berths, advanced cargo – handling equipment, and comprehensive logistics support services. Shanghai Port can handle various types of cargo, from high – value – added industrial products to bulk commodities. The port has a high – efficiency customs – clearance system, which ensures the smooth flow of goods in international trade.
- Wenzhou Port: It has modern berths and efficient cargo – handling systems. The port is equipped with state – of – the – art cargo – handling equipment, enabling high – speed loading and unloading of various types of goods. It has advanced storage facilities and a well – organized logistics management system. Wenzhou Port also has strong connections with the inland transportation network, facilitating the transfer of goods between the port and the factories in Jinhua.
3.1.3 International Routes
- Asia: Regular shipping services from these ports connect to major Asian ports such as Busan in South Korea, Tokyo in Japan, and Singapore. Jinhua’s exports to Asia mainly include industrial products, agricultural products, and some light – industrial products. For example, Jinhua exports hardware products, agricultural products, and handicrafts to South Korea and imports some high – tech components from Japan.
- Europe: Regular container ships ply from these ports to European ports such as Rotterdam and Hamburg. High – value – added products from Jinhua’s emerging industries, such as high – tech equipment and some high – end manufacturing products, are exported to Europe.
- North America: The ports have established shipping connections with North – American ports such as Vancouver and Los Angeles. Goods such as industrial products, agricultural products, and light – industrial consumer goods from Jinhua are transported to North America.
3.2 Air Freight
Jinhua has Jinhua Wuyi Airport, which offers limited air – freight services. However, for more comprehensive international air – freight services, Jinhua also relies on neighboring airports such as Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, and Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
- Fast and Efficient: Air freight can quickly transport high – value, time – sensitive goods from Jinhua 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 new – energy and high – tech industries), high – value – added agricultural products (such as premium – grade fruits and vegetables), and some high – value – added industrial products (such as high – precision machinery parts).
- Logistics Services: Local logistics companies in Jinhua cooperate with the airports to provide “door – to – door” services. Goods can be directly transported from factories or warehouses in Jinhua to the airport and then swiftly delivered to the destination by air. The airports also offer value – added services such as cargo tracking, warehousing, and distribution.
3.3 Inland Transportation Modes
Jinhua 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 Jinhua is well – developed, with expressways, national highways, 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: Jinhua has a relatively complete railway network, with the Zhejiang – Jiangxi Railway and other 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 domestic destinations and can be seamlessly connected with sea freight. The railway network can handle various types of cargo, including industrial products, minerals, and agricultural products.
- Inland Waterway Transportation: Although not as extensive as in some other regions, Jinhua has some inland waterway transportation routes mainly along the Qiantang River system. These routes are mainly used for the transportation of bulk goods such as building materials, industrial raw materials, and some agricultural products. The inland waterway transportation also plays a role in connecting Jinhua with other inland areas and in international trade through the connection to the sea.
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, Shanghai Port, Wenzhou Port, or other relevant ports) 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.