In the first half of 2025, Shenzhen led all mainland Chinese cities in total trade volume, exports, and achieved a record high in imports for the same period. According to Shenzhen Customs on July 28, the agency is actively implementing the national “Smart Customs, Strong Nation” initiative through six flagship actions aimed at supporting local economic development.

Strengthening Intelligent Risk Management

At the busy Luohu Port, Shenzhen Customs’ smart risk control system issued an alert identifying a “high-risk target.” Customs officers quickly intercepted the individual for inspection while allowing other passengers to pass smoothly—demonstrating precise, tech-driven border control.

“We’ve built an integrated platform for non-trade supervision that brings together data from express deliveries, personal luggage, and cross-border e-commerce,” said Chen Xiaoyu, head of Shenzhen Customs’ Animal and Plant Quarantine Division. “This enables full-spectrum risk profiling and interconnected monitoring of high-risk individuals, parcels, and goods—forming a strong defense for national biosecurity.”

In the first half of 2025 alone, Shenzhen Customs intercepted 564 instances of invasive species.

Upgrading Smart Logistics

At the Shenzhen Airport International Cargo Terminal in Qianhai, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) work around the clock. Seamless gate recognition and an integrated dispatch platform enable 24-hour “release-and-pickup” for imported goods.

Shenzhen Customs has launched a "Smart Airport Logistics Reform" initiative, redesigning air cargo workflows and integrating full-chain logistics data. The result: a 63% increase in the terminal's annual handling capacity.

The agency has also piloted a trust-based inspection model in Qianhai, allowing more goods to clear customs without repeated inspections—saving time and costs for businesses.

Supporting Enterprises and Improving Livelihoods

In the first half of the year, Shenzhen’s exports of the “New Three” high-tech products (such as solar panels, lithium batteries, and EVs) reached RMB 51.82 billion, up 21.1% year-on-year.

To help local exporters seize global market opportunities, Shenzhen Customs has enhanced its specialized task force model by combining functions across customs operations, inspection, tech standards, enterprise services, and tariffs.

In collaboration with the Shenzhen Bureau of Commerce and Market Supervision, the agency also established a new working station to promote high-quality foreign trade productivity. The initiative has supported 12 major industrial projects in nuclear energy and petrochemicals, covering imported equipment worth nearly 120 billion yuan and cutting production launch times by 50% on average.

At 10 a.m., freshly flown-in Atlantic salmon—still cold from transit—is quickly moved from the tarmac to the cold-chain inspection area at Shenzhen Airport. Nearby, cleared seafood is neatly arranged, ready for pickup.

This “air express lane” crafted by Shenzhen Customs is delivering premium global fresh foods directly into Chinese markets. The agency has led the country in piloting a reform of fresh seafood import supervision, using a white list and risk monitoring approach. This model not only safeguards food safety from the source but also reduces customs clearance times for high-risk items by over 90%, solving long-standing clearance delays for chilled imports.