Smart solutions drive surge in trade with ASEAN via Youyiguan Port

Powered by cutting-edge smart technologies and automated facilities, Youyiguan Port in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has significantly enhanced its cross-border logistics efficiency, driving a massive surge in trade volume with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Recent data highlight the port's growing role as a crucial logistics hub, with total import and export value reaching 513.6 billion yuan ($76.9 billion) in the first eight months of the year, marking a 31.2 percent year-on-year increase.

According to Chang Peng, deputy commissioner of Youyiguan Customs in the border city of Pingxiang, the port imported 894,000 metric tons of fruit from ASEAN countries — primarily Vietnam and Thailand — valued at 19.27 billion yuan during the same period, accounting for over 75 percent of Guangxi's total port volume.

Durian imports alone reached 620,000 tons worth 17.61 billion yuan, meaning two out of every five imported durians in the Chinese market now pass through this vital land corridor. Other major imported fruits include jackfruit and dragon fruit.

On the export side, the port handles a diverse array of goods destined for ASEAN markets, ranging from intermediate goods like liquid crystal display modules, data processing equipment parts and integrated circuits, to consumer items such as clothing and footwear.

Chang emphasized that Youyiguan has cemented its strategic position as the core hub for ASEAN fruits entering China. Once these tropical fruits are gathered and distributed in Pingxiang, they are rapidly transported across the country via the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. This robust distribution network not only solidifies Guangxi's status as a China-ASEAN fruit trading center, but also transforms the port into a critical supply chain node serving both domestic and international markets.

To handle this massive and time-sensitive influx of fresh produce, the port has implemented a series of digital and technological upgrades. Customs authorities have proactively engaged with enterprises through symposiums to explain declaration standards and policy benefits. To cope with peak import seasons, dynamic personnel scheduling and extended clearance hours have been introduced to guarantee smooth operations.

On the technological front, an intelligent inspection auxiliary system automatically dispatches vehicles and manages queues. Drivers can now receive notifications and process procedures entirely online via a mobile application, reducing vehicle waiting times by 20 percent, increasing parking turnover efficiency by 35 percent and boosting overall clearance efficiency by 40 percent. Furthermore, robotic process automation has replaced manual data entry for sampling and testing, operating around the clock to save labor and improve accuracy.

Quarantine and testing procedures have also been drastically accelerated. Localized laboratories have slashed testing times from up to five days to under 36 hours. A newly operational China-ASEAN fruit trading center laboratory in Chongzuo has further doubled daily sample testing capacity to over 400 and reduced average testing times by over 20 percent, ensuring the safe, compliant and rapid entry of imported fresh fruits.

The technological transformation extends beyond customs clearance to the border infrastructure itself. Zhu Houdong, a senior executive from Pingxiang Baofa Co, detailed the ongoing construction of the China-Vietnam Youyiguan-Huu Nghi smart freight channel, a key cross-border cooperation project. With an estimated investment of 1.06 billion yuan, the project utilizes satellite navigation and 5G technology to create a fully automated cross-border transport system.

Zhu said the facility's layout includes a container transfer area equipped with upgraded supportive infrastructure and machinery, designed to handle up to 2,880 containers daily. Unmanned vehicles transport containers through automated gates and the zero-kilometer channel directly into the Vietnamese transfer zone.

Enterprises can book customs clearance online through a regional service platform, triggering an automated dispatch system that coordinates remote collaborative inspections and non-intrusive scanning across multiple departments. Once fully operational, the port's daily clearance capacity will exceed 4,000 vehicles. By streamlining procedures, reducing manual intervention and enabling uninterrupted 24-hour operations, the initiative ensures that freight can be transported between Nanning and Hanoi within a single day.

Zhu added that this project will significantly lower cross-border logistics costs, secure regional supply chains and help transform the border economy from a mere transit point into a thriving industrial hub, further aligning with the Belt and Road Initiative and regional economic cooperation frameworks.

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn