Xiamen Photo: CFP

The value of cargo transported on China's first e-commerce shipping route from Xiamen in East China's Fujian Province to Manila of Philippines surpassed 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) as of its first anniversary on Saturday, showing remarkable potential of regional e-commerce cooperation.

The container throughput of the route, which is operated by Fujian-based international shipping association Silk Road Maritime, reached nearly 30,000 standard containers with a total value of goods exceeding 10.3 billion yuan, according to Xiamen customs.

The data showed that there were 39,000 cross-border e-commerce export orders, with a value of about 350 million yuan, including bags, shoes, clothing, daily necessities and fitness products.

The special route goes directly from Xiamen Port to Manila Port, enabling domestic e-commerce goods to reach the Philippines in two days. It does much to meet the trade needs of small-batch and multi-batch e-commerce goods with efficiency, and it is favored by cross-border e-commerce companies, a statement sent from the association to the Global Times said. 

Ships on the route use the point-to-point transport mechanism, which increases efficiency, than regular ships that may dock in various locations, a representative from the Silk Road Maritime shipping association told the Global Times on Sunday.

The route can secure the delivery times of e-commerce goods on the premise of low costs, enhancing the market competitiveness of China's exporters.

Officials from Xiamen customs said that, benefiting from the recovery of the Southeast Asian consumer market, the demand for products such as bags, shoes and clothing and building materials generated opportunities for exporters in Fujian, and lifted the transport volume through the route.

China's trade with ASEAN countries has seen vigorous growth, with the region remaining China's largest trading partner from January to May, the country's General Administration of Customs said on Wednesday.

Total China-ASEAN rose to 2.59 trillion yuan in the first five months, up by 9.9 percent year-on-year, accounting for 15.4 percent of China's total foreign trade.

Global Times