Qingdao FTZ helps businesses cut costs, boost trade efficiency

The Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Qingdao FTZ) is strengthening business services through trading platforms, customs facilitation, financing support, and assistance for companies expanding overseas.

In the first half of 2026, the area recorded 93.77 billion yuan ($13.9 billion) in goods imports and exports, accounting for 20.1 percent of Qingdao's total. Sales by wholesale enterprises above the designated size reached 323.9 billion yuan, up 16.2 percent year-on-year.

The Qingdao International Energy Free Trade Port, a major commodity trading platform in the area, has attracted more than 350 companies and service providers since beginning operations a year ago. Trading companies on the platform have generated more than 350 billion yuan in sales, supported by services such as business matching, transaction verification, and financing.

The area has also worked with customs, maritime, port, and border inspection authorities to improve trade efficiency. A new customs clearance model allows container scanning during unloading or transportation, cutting import clearance time by an average of three to seven hours and saving about 600 yuan per container, according to Huangdao Customs.

Support has also extended to companies expanding overseas. Over the past year, a dedicated team has held 41 consultations with Qingdao Hengrui Zhengtai New Energy as the company pursued photovoltaic projects in Ghana, assisting with overseas registration, product certification, and logistics.

Financing services have also been expanded. A lending platform has issued 344 loans totaling 2.08 billion yuan to 151 companies, while movable-property-backed financing has provided more than 5 billion yuan to small and medium-sized trading companies.

Through these measures, the Qingdao FTZ is seeking to help businesses reach new markets, reduce costs, and improve operating efficiency.

A view of the Qingdao International Energy Free Trade Port in Qingdao FTZ. [Photo/Dazhong News]