A cargo ship docks to load and unload containers at Nanjing Port in East China's Jiangsu province on Jan 21. SHI JUN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Efficiency is further boosted by cross-departmental collaboration. The Nansha Border Inspection Station has introduced a "full-chain" smart clearance model. Ships can complete pre-inspections online before arrival, allowing for immediate docking.

Crucially, for cargo leaving the port, electronic intelligent supervision has eliminated the need for secondary handling and detours through municipal roads. Vehicles now move directly from the warehouse to the ship's side, achieving "point-to-point" direct access.

Furthermore, the "One Port Pass" reform launched by Guangzhou Customs has integrated logistics across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, allowing export goods to complete customs procedures at local inland river terminals before being shipped out.

From the "efficiency change" of a single enterprise to the "capacity change" of a port, and finally to the "network change" connecting the hinterland to the globe, these efforts ensure the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

The external environment continues to remain severe as 2026 unfolds.

However, with a solid economic foundation, a proven ability to innovate in manufacturing as evidenced by the NEV sector, and a continuously optimizing logistics environment, China's foreign trade sector is poised to continue injecting certainty into the global economy.