General Import – Export Freight Service Guide for Kaifeng
1. City Introduction
1.1 Geographical Location
Kaifeng, located in Henan Province, is in the eastern part of Henan. It is an important transportation node in the region. Although not as large a transportation hub as Zhengzhou, Kaifeng has a well – connected transportation network. It is close to the Beijing – Guangzhou Railway and major expressways, such as the Lianhuo Expressway, which enables it to have convenient access to other parts of the country. This geographical position also allows Kaifeng to participate in international trade by relying on nearby coastal ports and transportation corridors.
1.2 Economic Characteristics
Kaifeng has a diverse economic structure. The manufacturing industry is developing steadily, with sectors like food processing, equipment manufacturing, and new materials emerging. The city has a long – standing reputation for its food – related products, especially traditional snacks and processed foods. In addition, the cultural tourism industry is booming, which also drives the development of related handicraft production and sales. In recent years, the e – commerce and modern logistics industries have started to take shape, increasing the demand for import – export freight services.
1.3 Administrative Districts and Freight – related Areas
- Longting District: As a district rich in historical and cultural heritage, it is a major center for tourism and cultural industries. The district houses many cultural and tourism enterprises. It mainly exports cultural and creative products, handicrafts with Song – Dynasty cultural elements, and some tourism – related services. It imports some high – quality raw materials for handicraft production and advanced tourism – management experience.
- Shunhe Hui District: It has a certain commercial and industrial foundation. There are many small – and medium – sized enterprises in the district, mainly engaged in the production of daily – use products, textiles, and some light – industrial goods. The district exports these products and imports raw materials such as cotton, chemical fibers, and some simple production equipment.
- Gulou District: It is a commercial center in Kaifeng, with a large number of shopping malls, markets, and commercial enterprises. The district mainly exports consumer goods, local specialties, and some light – industrial products. It imports high – quality consumer goods from other regions to meet the consumption needs of local residents.
- Yuwangtai District: It has a relatively strong industrial base in the fields of food processing and building materials production. The district exports processed food products, building materials such as bricks and tiles. It imports food ingredients, raw materials for building materials production, and some advanced food – processing equipment.
- Xiangfu District: The district has a prosperous agricultural economy. It is a major producer of grains, vegetables, and fruits in the area. The district has a well – developed agricultural product processing industry, mainly processing and exporting agricultural products such as wheat, apples, and cucumbers. It imports some high – quality seeds, agricultural – related production materials, and advanced agricultural machinery.
- Qi County: The county has a rich agricultural resource base. It has a large – scale garlic – planting area and is also involved in the production of other agricultural products. The county exports agricultural products such as garlic, peanuts, and some processed agricultural products. It imports some agricultural – related production materials and some advanced agricultural production technologies.
- Tongxu County: It has a diversified economic structure, with manufacturing industries such as machinery manufacturing and food processing. The county exports mechanical equipment, processed food products, and some handicrafts. It imports key components for machinery manufacturing, high – quality food ingredients, and some raw materials for handicraft production.
- Weishi County: The county has a strong industrial base in the textile and garment industry. It exports textile products, clothing, and some light – industrial products. It imports raw materials such as cotton, textile dyes, and some advanced textile machinery.
- Lankao County: It has made remarkable achievements in the development of the furniture industry. The county exports a large number of furniture products, as well as some agricultural products. It imports high – quality wood, furniture – making accessories, and some advanced furniture – production technologies.
2. Port and Airport Information
2.1 Port / Sea Freight
2.1.1 Port Selection
Kaifeng mainly relies on coastal ports such as Qingdao Port, Lianyungang Port, and Tianjin Port for international trade. These ports are connected to Kaifeng through a combination of railways and highways. Multimodal transportation, especially railway – sea intermodal transport, ensures the smooth transportation of goods, enabling Kaifeng to access international markets.
2.1.2 Port Information
- Qingdao Port: A large – scale comprehensive port with multiple deep – water berths. It is equipped with advanced automated loading and unloading equipment, modern warehousing facilities, and an efficient customs clearance system. It can handle various types of goods, including bulk cargo such as coal, iron ore, and grain, as well as general cargo and containers.
- Lianyungang Port: It is an important port on the east coast of China, with a focus on handling bulk cargo and containers. It has a relatively complete logistics service system and is well – connected to the inland transportation network. It can handle a large volume of goods for the import and export of Kaifeng.
- Tianjin Port: One of the largest comprehensive ports in northern China, it has numerous deep – water berths. It has advanced loading and unloading equipment, large – scale warehousing facilities, and a highly efficient customs clearance system. It can handle a wide range of goods, from bulk commodities to high – value – added products.
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 Kaifeng 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 Kaifeng (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 – end furniture and some 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
Kaifeng does not have an international airport. It mainly relies on Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, which is about 70 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 Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport to provide door – to – door air freight services.
2.3 Inland Transportation Modes
- Road Transportation: The road network in Kaifeng 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: Although not a major railway hub like Zhengzhou, Kaifeng is connected to the national railway network. Railway transportation is suitable for large – batch and long – distance cargo transportation. It can be connected with sea freight through the connection with coastal ports, enabling the large – scale transportation of goods both domestically and internationally.
- Inland Waterway Transportation: Kaifeng has some inland waterways, such as the Yellow River and the Grand Canal. These waterways can be used for the transportation of bulk cargo such as building materials and some agricultural products within a certain range. They 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 20 – foot container from Kaifeng (through Lianyungang Port) to a Southeast Asian port may range from several hundred to a few thousand 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.