General Import and Export Freight Service Guide for Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County, Hainan, China
I. City Introduction
1.1 Geographical Location
Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County is nestled in the central part of Hainan Island. As an inland county, it is surrounded by mountains, yet it has a relatively convenient transportation network. It is connected to major cities in Hainan, such as Haikou and Sanya, through expressways and national roads. The Hainan Ring Expressway passes nearby, providing easy access for the transportation of goods, which is of great significance for its import and export activities.
1.2 Economic Characteristics
The economy of Qiongzhong County mainly focuses on tropical agriculture, forestry, and the emerging tourism industry. Tropical fruits like mangoes, lychees, and longans are widely planted. The county also has a large area of forest resources, which promotes the development of the forestry industry, including the production of timber and forest – based products. In recent years, driven by the unique Li and Miao ethnic cultures and beautiful natural scenery, the tourism industry has been booming. These industries generate a large demand for import and export freight services, such as transporting agricultural products, tourism – related supplies, and equipment for forest product processing.
1.3 Administrative Divisions and Freight – related Areas
Qiongzhong County has 10 towns under its jurisdiction. Yinggen Town, as the county seat, is the center of economic and commercial activities. It has a relatively complete set of logistics facilities and service providers, playing a crucial role in the collection, distribution, and transfer of goods. Bayi Town, with its rich agricultural resources, is an important source of freight. The agricultural products produced here, after processing, are transported to various places through the logistics network.
II. Port and Airport Information
2.1 Ports
Since Qiongzhong is an inland county, it has no local ports. It mainly depends on Haikou Port and Sanya Port for sea freight. Haikou Port, with its modern container handling equipment, large – scale storage yards, and a wide range of shipping routes, can handle different types of cargo, including bulk agricultural products, industrial products, and consumer goods. It has established shipping connections with major ports in Southeast Asia, Europe, and America. Sanya Port, on the other hand, is more specialized in handling high – value – added and time – sensitive goods, such as fresh tropical fruits and high – end tourism – related products, which meets the specific freight needs of Qiongzhong County.
2.2 Airports
For air freight, Qiongzhong County relies on Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport. Haikou Meilan International Airport has a dense network of freight routes, which can directly reach major domestic cities and some international destinations. It is suitable for transporting fresh agricultural products, high – tech equipment for the local industry, and some tourism – related high – value goods that require fast delivery. Sanya Phoenix International Airport also has strong freight – handling capabilities, especially in the transportation of goods related to the tourism industry, such as handicrafts, luxury goods for tourists, and fresh food for high – end resorts.
2.3 Inland Transportation
Road transportation is the dominant mode of inland transportation in Qiongzhong County. The county has a continuously improving road network, including expressways, national roads, and provincial roads, which connect all towns within the county. Trucks can provide door – to – door transportation services, which is very convenient for small – batch and multi – batch cargo transportation. Although the railway network is not as developed as the road network, it still plays an important role in the long – distance transportation of large – quantity goods. The railway can be connected with ports and airports, realizing the seamless transfer of goods and facilitating the import and export of goods.
III. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
3.1 Cost – related
3.1.1 FCL (Full Container Load)
When exporting by FCL from Qiongzhong County, the basic ocean freight is mainly determined by the destination port. For example, the cost of shipping to ports in Southeast Asia is relatively lower compared to those in Europe or America. Port handling fees are charged according to the type and size of the container. Generally, 40 – foot containers have higher handling fees than 20 – foot containers. Documentation fees cover the preparation of necessary shipping documents, such as bills of lading, commercial invoices, and packing lists. In addition, surcharges like the bunker adjustment factor (BAF) and currency adjustment factor (CAF) will also have a significant impact on the total freight cost. These surcharges are often affected by factors such as oil prices and exchange rates.
3.1.2 LCL (Less than Container Load)
The cost of LCL sea freight is calculated based on the volume or weight of the goods for the basic freight. In addition, there are LCL service fees, which include the cost of cargo consolidation and de – consolidation at the origin and destination ports. When the goods are stored in the warehouse for consolidation or de – consolidation, storage fees will be incurred. The longer the storage time, the higher the storage fees. Different freight forwarders may have different charging standards, so it is necessary to compare and choose carefully when selecting a freight forwarder.
3.2 Process – related
3.2.1 Export Process
Exporters in Qiongzhong County first need to sign a trade contract with foreign customers, clearly defining the specifications, quantity, price, and delivery time of the goods. Then, they prepare relevant documents, such as commercial invoices, packing lists, and customs declaration forms. Next, the goods are transported to the designated port. At the port, they need to go through customs declaration and inspection procedures. Once the customs inspection is passed, the goods can be loaded onto the ship. After the goods are loaded, the exporter should promptly send a shipping notice to the customer and provide the bill of lading and other relevant documents to ensure that the customer can pick up the goods smoothly at the destination port.
3.2.2 Import Process
For imports, the enterprise first signs a purchase contract with the foreign supplier and arranges payment. Before the goods arrive at the port, the enterprise needs to declare to the customs and submit relevant documents, such as the import customs declaration form, bill of lading, commercial invoice, and packing list. The customs will inspect the goods and levy relevant duties and taxes. After the enterprise pays the taxes, it can pick up the goods. If the goods need to go through inspection and quarantine procedures, these procedures must be completed before the goods are picked up to ensure that the goods meet the relevant domestic standards.
3.3 Customs Clearance – related
The customs clearance of import and export goods in Qiongzhong County is carried out at Haikou Customs. Enterprises must truthfully declare the information of the goods, including the name, quantity, value, and place of origin. At the same time, they need to prepare relevant certificates, such as certificates of origin and quality inspection certificates, to cooperate with the customs inspection work. For special goods, such as animal and plant products and hazardous chemicals, additional approval procedures are required. For example, animal and plant products need to provide quarantine certificates, and hazardous chemicals need to have relevant safety permits and approvals.