New customs supervision model boosts Ningbo's NEV exports

In an effort to streamline the export process for new energy vehicles and address logistical challenges, customs authorities in Ningbo, Zhejiang province have launched a "one-stop" supervision model for the export of NEVs through container vessels.

New energy vehicles are usually exported via roll-on/roll-off ships, container vessels, and China-Europe freight trains. Due to the current decline in sea freight costs, container shipping has become the more cost-effective option, according to Chen Xue, deputy general manager of Ningbo Sovel Supply Chain Management Co Ltd.

However, the fragmentation of export procedures and a lack of dedicated facilities for NEVs at the Ningbo port resulted in increased loading times and high expenses for companies exporting large quantities of vehicles. To address these issues, Ningbo Customs worked with commerce, transportation, and port authorities to establish a dedicated yard for the export of NEVs and introduced the province's first-ever "one-stop" supervision model.

This innovative system, by integrating many procedures like customs inspection and container loading, has reduced transportation time by two to three days and saved companies 800 to 1,000 yuan ($112-140) in operating costs per container.

It has also "significantly improved the safety of vehicle transportation and reduced damage to cars", said Zhang Peng, deputy general manager of CITIC Gangtong International Logistics Co Ltd.

NEV exports have now become a prominent driver of growth for Ningbo's foreign trade. According to statistics from Ningbo Customs, the city has this year exported 54,000 NEVs valued at 4.72 billion yuan, representing year-on-year increases of 62.1 percent and 62.6 percent, respectively.