Zhejiang sees growth in cross-border e-commerce

Four bottles of Serbian fruit wine are on display at the 4th Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

East China's Zhejiang province achieved cross-border e-commerce imports and exports worth 230.53 billion yuan (about $31.7 billion) from January to August, up 30.3 percent year-on-year, according to Hangzhou Customs.

Exports reached 178.88 billion yuan, a 32.6 percent increase, while imports rose 23 percent to 51.65 billion yuan, both posting double-digit growth over the period.

Among the exports, a batch of smart glasses produced by Hangzhou Lingban Technology Ltd was recently shipped to Europe using the overseas warehouse model. The device, equipped with functions such as photography, calls, and AI real-time translation, has gained popularity among overseas consumers, according to Ji Mengmeng, the company's cross-border logistics manager.

Ji said that after customs promoted the overseas warehouse model, delivery times shortened to one to three days, improving the shopping experience for international buyers and boosting product competitiveness.

With authorization from the General Administration of Customs, Hangzhou Customs has also taken the lead in piloting cross-customs returns for cross-border e-commerce imports. The policy allows consumers nationwide to send returned goods to a centralized warehouse in Hangzhou. Defective goods are either destroyed or shipped back overseas, while items without quality issues are released for further handling by platforms and suppliers.

Through interlinked business systems, Hangzhou Customs applies full-cycle digital management to returned goods. The system automatically cross-checks sales and return information, while customs officers verify the items in person for efficient oversight. Once the process is complete, the system immediately relays feedback to the customs office at the origin of shipment, forming a closed-loop regulatory model.

From January to August, Qianjiang Customs, a subordinate office under Hangzhou Customs, cleared 183,000 returned parcels valued at 67.23 million yuan. The office is responsible for managing imports and exports in Hangzhou, excluding the airport, as well as supervising inbound and outbound mail across most of Zhejiang province.