“Silver-Haired Express” Puts Domestic Senior-Friendly Products on the Global Fast Track

With the continued growth of the global “silver economy”, domestically produced senior-friendly products are emerging as a new bright spot in China’s exports. Recently, a “Silver-Haired Express” freight trainloaded with wheelchairs, commode chairs, care robots, blood pressure monitors, sleep apnea machines, and other elderly-care products, sounded its departure whistle from Zengcheng West Station in Guangzhou under the supervision of Zengcheng Customs, a subsidiary of Huangpu Customs, on a 15-day journey to the European market.

In fact, in recent years, the Chinese senior-care product sector has seen continuous innovation across design philosophy and product offerings. Ranging from basic mobility aids and intelligent sleep monitors to therapeutic toys with age-friendly designs, new products such as sleep apnea machines, bath aids, cushioned insoles, and mobility assistive robots are finding a growing market internationally. These versatile, smart, and user-friendly products are becoming a seamless part of diverse daily routines for the elderly.

“Shipping senior-friendly goods via the China-Europe Railway Express gives a clear time advantage over traditional sea freight, while keeping costs well below air cargo. This offers companies a more competitive logistics solution for building a stable presence in overseas markets,” said Li Siqiang, the head of the Train Operations Department of GCI International Train Operation Management Co., Ltd. A reliable international rail corridor enables businesses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to not only respond more swiftly to shifts in international demand but also capture emerging opportunities in the “silver economy”.

To support the global expansion of products for the silver economy, Zengcheng Customs has established dedicated export channels for senior-care products, offering business estailored clearance plans and providing end-to-end support from declaration and inspection to release. Furthermore, by implementing a streamlined coordination mechanism, the Customs authority secures advance knowledge of the “Silver-Haired Express” shipment schedules and employs facilitation measures such as advance declaration and appointment-based clearance. This process enables immediate inspection and release of goods upon the arrival of shipment, significantly reducing port turnaround time.

At the same time, the safety and health of end-users is a paramount concern for products aimed at the elderly. To this end, Zengcheng Customs has strengthened quality oversight at the production source. This involves requiring and assisting companies to upgrade their quality and safety management systems. In addition, Customs Officials conduct on-site visits to provide detailed briefings on the technical standards and certification requirements of key export markets, with a focus on access regulations for aged care and rehabilitation products. These efforts, which include organizing targeted briefings that combine regulatory guidance with proactive risk alerts, are designed to ensure full compliance with destination market standards, thereby smoothing the path to market for a wide range of senior-friendly goods.

According to statistics on goods processed by Zengcheng Customs, exports of senior-friendly goods, including wheelchairs, blood pressure monitors, and walking aids, via the international freight trains from Zengcheng West Station totaled 10.5 million yuan from January to November.