Workers sort parcels of imported goods at a warehouse in Ningbo Free Trade Zone on Nov 8, 2017. [Photo/IC]

Ningbo Free Trade Zone (FTZ) witnessed strong growth in cross-border e-commerce imports in the first quarter of the year.

Statistics show that around 16.02 million cross-border e-commerce imports, worth a total of 2.95 billion yuan ($440.67 million), were declared to Ningbo Customs from January to March, up 72.3 percent and 84.7 percent year on year, respectively.

Cosmetics, healthcare and baby products accounted for the majority of the imports. The value of cosmetic product imports reached 950 million yuan, or 30 percent of the zone's total imports, during that period. 

Ningbo Customs has been improving regulation of cross-border e-commerce in recent years. It has implemented an intelligent electronic system for customs clearance and significantly enhanced the efficiency of e-commerce trade. 

Ningbo FTZ is one of the nation’s first pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce imports. More than 600 e-commerce companies have settled in the zone since it began operations in November 2013, including global e-commerce giants Amazon, Alibaba and JD, etc.