A new method for cross-border exporting was launched in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, on Feb 10, as a batch of casual shoes worth $78,000 went through Dongdu Customs and entered the Xiangyu Comprehensive Bonded Zone.

Dongdu Customs officers spot-check the shoes waiting to be exported. [Photo/WeChat account: touzixiamen]

The shoes were declared for export in a "retail business mode of cross-border e-commerce through which commodities are exported to overseas warehouses through a special area", and will be delivered to warehouses in Southeast Asia and sold through e-commerce platforms such as Shopee and Lazada.

According to authorities, the new mode allows general trade goods to be exported to a special zone before being transported to overseas warehouses in batches and then sold and delivered to consumers through online platforms.

It enables e-commerce companies to receive tax refunds immediately as the goods enter the comprehensive bonded zone, which accelerates the turnover of capital, helps release companies' pressure, cuts logistics costs and enhances logistics efficiency.

The new mode allows general trade goods and processing trade goods to be packaged together, and goods can also enter the special area together and be transported to overseas warehouses in batches, which effectively reduces risks and improves logistics competitiveness, according to Lin Ping, general manager of the shoes' exporter. The company gained refunded tax of more than 70,000 yuan ($10,234) in an efficient manner thanks to the new mode.

"If exported goods were sent back, they could also be tidied up, repaired and packaged for reselling in the bonded zone," Lin added.

"The new mode smooths out the goods' export and return channels, especially backwards logistics problems for cross-border e-commerce exports," said Zhuang Xiling, an official at the Xiamen Dongdu Customs.

According to Zhuang, two companies based in the Xiangyu Comprehensive Bonded Zone have already registered for the new business mode.