EXTRANS GLOBAL - Weekly Logistics Operation Update - Week 31-2025

📌 Weekly Logistics Highlights

The news highlights this week include: Hong Kong, China advances the Port Community System (PCS), which will be operational in January 2026 and realize "one form for two declarations" between Guangdong and Hong Kong; Shenzhen opens the Yantian Port - Xiaomo Port empty container barge route to serve new energy vehicle exports; Maersk in Vietnam raises surcharges on multiple routes; the expansion of Busan Port's automated terminal in South Korea increases annual handling capacity by 1.3 million TEUs; the United States cancels duty exemption for small cross-border e-commerce packages, pushing up logistics costs.……

Hong Kong, China

🔹 Breakthroughs in the construction of Port Community System (PCS)

Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms. Chan Mei-po, announced at the Data Summit that Hong Kong is fully building the Port Community System (PCS), aiming to connect information across land, sea and air transportation chains and realize real-time transparency of cargo status. The PCS will connect with the electronic port of Guangdong Province to promote the "one form for two declarations" mechanism, meaning enterprises only need to submit data once to complete customs declarations in both Guangdong and Hong Kong, which is expected to shorten cross-border logistics time by 30%. In addition, Hong Kong has collaborated with the mainland to establish a "rail-sea-land-river" multimodal transport network. For example, cross-border e-commerce goods from Chengdu, Chongqing and other places are transported via high-speed rail connecting barges, and plans are made to utilize the mainland's canal system to optimize the connection efficiency between the hub airport and the port. Ms. Chan Mei-po revealed that the core system of PCS will be officially put into operation in January 2026. Currently, the LSCM Logistics Research and Development Centre has carried out pilot projects on cargo flow verification and financing scenarios with the industry, and some enterprises have reduced credit costs and shortened approval cycles through this platform.

Shenzhen, China

🔹 New breakthrough in Shenzhen-Hong Kong logistics collaboration: Yantian Port - Xiaomo Port empty container barge route opened

On August 1, Shenzhen Port Group officially opened the "Yantian Port - Xiaomo Port" empty container barge route, which is the first time Shenzhen has provided customized logistics services for BYD's Shenshan factory through the "maritime express lane" model. The route integrates resources from Yantian International, Lego Shipping and other parties to realize the direct delivery of empty containers from Yantian Port Area to Xiaomo Port, then transported by trailers to Shenshan factory for loading, and finally returned to Yantian Port for export. The whole-process "one-stop" service significantly reduces logistics costs, especially providing efficient support for the export of new energy vehicles and knocked-down (KD) parts. Shenzhen Port Group stated that this marks the extension of Shenzhen-Hong Kong logistics collaboration from traditional port operations to the upper and lower reaches of the industrial chain, and will gradually expand to more industries such as electronics and pharmaceuticals in the future.

 Guangzhou, China

🔹 Port hub efficiency continues to lead, foreign trade container growth rate ranks first in the country

According to data released by the Guangzhou Port Authority on July 29, the foreign trade container throughput of Guangzhou Port in the first half of 2025 increased by 21.2% year-on-year, surpassing domestic trade container volume for the first time to become the main growth driver. The foreign trade cargo throughput increased by 13.28% year-on-year, with 285 container liner routes (including 179 foreign trade routes), and the international shipping center index rose to the 12th in the world. It is worth noting that Guangzhou Port has established an "invisible port network" inland through sea-rail intermodal transport and river-sea intermodal transport, adding 7 new foreign trade routes in the first half of the year, with 720,000 imported and exported commercial vehicles, and a 415.4% year-on-year surge in used car exports, becoming a core hub for new energy vehicle exports in South China.

Shanghai, China

🔹 Innovation in port-area collaboration: Shanghai Airport - Songjiang Free Trade Zone pre-loading station officially put into trial operation

On July 28, the Shanghai Airport - Songjiang Free Trade Zone pre-loading station launched the trial operation of export business, which is the first time Shanghai has set up an aviation pre-loading station in a free trade zone. Through the "port-area collaboration + smart supervision" model, goods can complete the whole process of customs declaration, inspection and security check before arriving at the airport, improving the overall customs clearance efficiency by 30% and reducing logistics costs by 15%. On the first day of trial operation, the first batch of cross-border e-commerce goods completed the whole process from declaration to loading through this station, marking a breakthrough in Shanghai's "airport function pre-positioning" field. The station will seamlessly connect with Pudong and Hongqiao airports through dedicated channels in the future, focusing on serving the export of high-value-added industries such as electronics and biomedicine in industrial districts such as Songjiang and Fengxian, with an estimated annual handling capacity of 500,000 tons.

 Tianjin, China

🔹 Cross border trade facilitation policies continue to be implemented, and customs clearance efficiency reaches new highs

On July 30th, Tianjin Port issued the "Special Action Measures for Cross border Trade Facilitation in 2025", which clarifies 12 measures including optimizing the inspection and supervision of exported lithium batteries and expanding the pilot program of "two certificates in one" for imported motor vehicles. Among them, the customs' "multi-point operation, rapid inspection and release" mode has shortened the import container lifting time from 4 hours to 20 minutes, and after simplifying the security check process for air transportation of live goods, the average clearance time has been reduced by 30%. In addition, the "Tianjin Port Tashkent" Central Asia train, which is a cooperation between Tianjin Port and Uzbekistan Railway Company, has been operating normally this week, reducing transportation costs by 20% -30% compared to traditional routes, becoming a "golden channel" for economic and trade exchanges between China and Uzbekistan.

 Qingdao, China

🔹 Qingdao Port releases first-half route expansion results, consolidating its position as the only all-directional radiation super hub in northern China

On July 28, Qingdao Port announced the results of route construction in the first half of 2025, adding 11 container routes, 4 general cargo routes and 5 sea-rail intermodal routes. Among them, the opening of the weekly direct express service to Southeast Africa and the roll-on/roll-off route to Central America makes Qingdao Port the only super hub in northern China with all-directional radiation covering "Europe - Mediterranean - Africa - South America". By the end of June, Qingdao Port has more than 230 container routes, covering over 180 countries and 700 ports worldwide, with routes along the RCEP and "Belt and Road" accounting for over 60%. The newly added CMA CGM Central and South America routes and Sinotrans Container Lines coastal defense routes further increase coverage of emerging markets, helping "Made in China" reach major consumer markets worldwide directly.

Vietnam

🔹 International shipping giant Maersk raises surcharges on multiple routes, leading to structural changes in Vietnam's export costs

From July 28, Maersk implemented an increase in Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on routes from the Far East including Vietnam to Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa and South Asia. Specific adjustments include:

• Europe and Mediterranean routes: The surcharge for 20-foot containers increases by 250 US dollars, and for 40-foot containers by 500 US dollars, covering key markets such as Turkey, Egypt and Israel.
• Africa and South Asia routes: A new surcharge of 1,000 US dollars is added for 40-foot containers to South Africa and Mauritius; 200 US dollars is added per container for routes to India and Pakistan.
• Oceania routes: From August 1, the surcharge for 40-foot containers from Vietnam to Australia and New Zealand will be increased by 600 US dollars.

This move reflects the structural shift in global shipping market demand for non-US routes. As a major manufacturing exporter, Vietnam will face periodic pressure on logistics costs for electronics, textiles and other categories. Analysts point out that Maersk's price adjustment strategy contrasts with the 70% plunge in US West Coast route freight rates, highlighting the rising strategic position of Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam in the global supply chain.

South Korea

🔹 Busan Port's automated terminal expansion completed, further consolidating its hub status in Northeast Asia

On July 29, the Phase 2-6 project of Busan Port's West Container Terminal was completed 6 months ahead of schedule, adding 2 50,000-ton berths and supporting automated yards. The project, with an investment of 180 million US dollars, adopts Korean-made AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) and AI scheduling system, and is expected to increase annual handling capacity by 1.3 million TEUs and improve overall operational efficiency by 25%. So far, the proportion of fully automated terminals in Busan Port has reached 40%, making it the world's first hub port to realize full-chain digitalization of "terminal operation - yard management - customs supervision". South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated that this will strengthen Busan Port's competitiveness in Sino-US trade routes, especially supporting the supply chain of high-end manufacturing industries such as semiconductors and auto parts.

America

🔹 Trump administration cancels duty exemption for small cross-border e-commerce packages, leading to soaring logistics costs and compliance pressures

On July 30, Trump signed an executive order to suspend the "De Minimis" policy. From August 29, commercial packages worth less than 800 US dollars entering the United States through private logistics channels such as FedEx and UPS will no longer enjoy duty exemption and will be subject to full tariffs. This policy directly impacts cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein, weakening their cost advantages built through the "low-price direct mail + duty-free" model. Data shows that the volume of non-Chinese small packages in fiscal year 2025 has soared from 115 million in 2024 to 309 million, with electronics and textiles accounting for over 60%.

Policy adjustments have led to the restructuring of cross-border logistics chains:

• Cost increase: Freight rates for private logistics channels may increase by 15%-20% due to tariff payment services. Some small and medium-sized sellers are forced to switch to international postal systems, but face specific duties or ad valorem duties of 80-200 US dollars.
• Time delay: Customs declaration procedures have become more complicated, and the average customs clearance time for a single shipment is expected to extend from 2 hours to 4 hours, which may lead to cargo backlogs in some ports.
• Supply chain shift: Amazon, Walmart and other enterprises are accelerating the layout of overseas warehouses in Mexico and Vietnam, and avoiding tariffs through "third-country transshipment". It is expected that the area of cross-border e-commerce warehouses in Mexico will increase by 40% by the end of 2025.

Bangladesh

🔹 Controversy over Severe Congestion in Jida Port: Port Authority's Proposal to Reduce Ships Opposed

As of July 30th, 20 container ships have been stranded at the outer anchorage for 9 days, with a yard utilization rate of over 77%. The port authority proposed to reduce the number of operating ships from 118 to 96-100 to alleviate the pressure, but it was strongly opposed by the Shipping Agents Association (BSAA). The association pointed out that the root cause of congestion lies in lagging infrastructure (gantry crane failures, trailer shortages, insufficient yards) and external interference (student protests, customs strikes), rather than overcapacity. Chittagong undertakes 90% of Bangladesh's maritime trade, and this crisis has directly impacted clothing exports (accounting for 12% of the world's total) and electronic imports. Maersk and other airlines have been forced to impose congestion surcharges ($50-80/TEU).

Myanmar

🔹 Yangon Port resumes operations, with intensive ship calls in August but lingering concerns 

Although the strong winds on July 24 caused the suspension of container handling at Yangon's Botahtaung Port for 3 days, it fully resumed operations by July 28. The August schedule shows that COSCO Shipping, CMA-CGM and other companies plan to make 60 calls, 11 of which are led by COSCO Shipping. However, the following issues need attention:

• Equipment aging risk: The failure rate of gantry cranes at Yangon Port has increased by 30% compared with the same period last year. Some shippers choose to pay a premium to use the Asia World Port Terminal (AWPT) managed by Singapore's PSA Group, which is 20% more efficient than traditional terminals.
• Geopolitical impact: The conflict in Tanintharyi Region may cause some shipping companies to adjust their routes. For example, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has diverted 20% of its Southeast Asian cargo to Thailand's Laem Chabang Port.

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