Fujian shipping route gets goods to Taiwan faster

A cargo ship loaded with various daily necessities departed from a port in Quanzhou, Fujian province, and headed to Kinmen in Taiwan, an example of how Taiwan residents are now able to receive goods purchased from the Chinese mainland via e-commerce platforms more quickly.

The ship departed from Weitou Port last Thursday, carrying goods valued at 3.33 million yuan ($456,000) and weighing 78.7 metric tons, according to the Quanzhou Maritime Safety Administration.

The voyage marked the debut of the overseas trade container route between Jinjiang, where the port is located, and Kinmen.

The cargo mainly consisted of clothing, bags, outdoor products and supplies for mothers and babies. Upon arrival in Kinmen, the goods will be distributed to other parts of Taiwan via water and air transport.

Weitou is the closest point on the mainland to Kinmen, making it the shortest route, according to a news release by the Quanzhou MSA. The opening of this express route has allowed goods, which are bought via e-commerce platforms and destined for Kinmen, to clear customs in the Quanzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone and be transported via the Weitou Port.

The route has made it possible for a parcel to be shipped to Taiwan from the mainland on the same day of ordering, which has significantly reduced logistics and time costs for local businesses, the news release said.

It added that this also means that goods purchased by Taiwan compatriots from the mainland via e-commerce platforms can be delivered up to one day earlier than before.

Yang Yi, customs manager at Jinjiang Hangtuo E-commerce Co, said that before the express route was opened, the firm's goods had to be transported to Xiamen first, and then from Xiamen to Kinmen.

"With the opening of this route, our company now has more time to collect goods. Meanwhile, the delivery time for Taiwan customers is expected to be five hours earlier, or even up to a day earlier," she said.

"This can provide a better shopping experience for consumers and help increase our business volume," she added.

Hong Xiumian, deputy manager of the container department at Jinjiang Pacific Ports Development Co, said, "Weitou is the closest point on the mainland to Kinmen, with the fastest voyage time of approximately one and a half hours.

"The opening of this route will provide a fast logistics channel for cross-Strait e-commerce. We will continue to increase the frequency of trips and develop Weitou Port into a distribution hub of cross-Strait e-commerce goods for Taiwan."