Nearly 60% of Yiwu exports pass through Ningbo in Q1

A multimodal transport operation site at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. [Photo by Xiang Lianmei/Yongpai App]

More goods from Yiwu are reaching overseas markets through Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, as the Yiwu-Ningbo-Zhoushan trade corridor becomes an increasingly important route for exporters.

A batch of office supplies from Yiwu was packed at a logistics warehouse in Ningbo on May 6, before being shipped to South Korea. After completing customs declaration, inspection, and clearance procedures, the cargo was loaded directly onto a ship bound for overseas markets.

According to customs data, Yiwu's exports totaled 178.61 billion yuan ($26.24 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, up 21.3 percent year-on-year. Of this total, 104.2 billion yuan worth of goods were exported through Ningbo, accounting for nearly 60 percent of Yiwu's overall exports.

Export products are also shifting from traditional small commodities to higher value-added goods such as home products, hardware tools, and sporting supplies. Meanwhile, export markets are becoming more diversified, with growing shipments to South America, Africa, and the Middle East alongside traditional destinations in Europe and Southeast Asia.

To improve efficiency, Ningbo Customs introduced an inspect-before-loading model tailored to Yiwu's small-batch export pattern. Cargo is inspected during consolidation, reducing the need for repeated unpacking and helping businesses better manage shipping schedules.

Digital tracking systems, smart locks, and integrated customs services have further streamlined transport.

In the first quarter, the Yiwu-Ningbo-Zhoushan Port sea-rail intermodal service handled 76,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a year-on-year increase of 115.6 percent, reflecting the corridor's growing appeal to exporters.