The expedited customs clearance policy in the Yangshan Free Trade Zone of Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area, which went into effect in May 2020, has contributed to the zone's impressive growth, supported by the dedicated and innovative efforts of the No 3 comprehensive operations team of Yangshan Customs.

In the first nine months of 2025, the zone achieved a staggering import and export volume of 290.6 billion yuan ($40.7 billion), reflecting a 124 percent increase compared to the entire year of 2021. Additionally, over the first 10 months of 2025, Yangshan Customs oversaw the export of more than 516,000 vehicles, up 37.5 percent year-on-year, with new energy vehicles comprising 57.6 percent of the total exports.

The past five years of development have been the result of a collective effort in which innovative ideas have been transformed into actionable plans, supported by teamwork, underpinning high-quality foreign trade development in the FTZ.

In early 2020, the critical task of implementing the expedited customs clearance policy was assigned to Yangshan Customs' No 3 comprehensive operations team. After two months of intensive work, the first fast lane for the policy was successfully established. This model allows for the direct clearance of goods that do not require permits or inspections, streamlining the process for businesses to pick up and deliver goods and improving efficiency.

A customs officer provides one-on-one guidance to an enterprise. [Photo/thepaper.cn]

Customs officers conduct an on-site inspection of an enterprise within the zone. [Photo/thepaper.cn]

Over the past five years, the policy has evolved from handling its first shipment to expanding its scope to include wood packaging quarantine trials and extending to the Nangang Terminal.

By the end of 2022, vehicle pick-up time was reduced from three days to just two hours, with over 3,000 bonded transit vehicles processed annually. This achievement not only provided tangible convenience to enterprises but also marked the transition of the expedited customs clearance operation from a pilot project to a systematically implemented policy, further expanding to Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone and Pudong airport in 2024.