In a landmark development for China's cruise industry, an international cruise ship acquired its pharmaceutical supplies directly at a Chinese port for the first time on April 1.

This milestone took place at Shanghai's Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, where Adora Magic City, China's first large-scale domestically-built cruise ship, received a direct supply of medicines for its operations.

Among the medical supplies loaded onto the ship were commonly used pharmaceuticals, including Chuanbei Pipa Gao (loquat syrup), calamine lotion, and aspirin, totaling 147.76 kilograms in weight and valued at about 59,400 yuan (about $8,200).

Previously, international cruise ships primarily procured pharmaceutical supplies from overseas ports such as Singapore and Busan, often leading to supply delays and higher costs.

In April 2024, the State Council, China's cabinet, introduced new regulations to facilitate the replenishment of international cruises at Chinese ports, allowing for the direct supply of medicines and medical devices.

These regulations apply to both foreign cruise ships and Chinese cruise ships operating on international routes, streamlining the process of acquiring essential supplies and services at Chinese ports.

The direct supply to cruises ensures faster and more cost-effective provisions. Moreover, compared with conventional export trade, the materials directly supplied to cruise ships are entitled to export tax rebates.

Since the policy's rollout, Baoshan Customs, which supervised the supply of pharmaceuticals to Adora Magic City, has facilitated the direct supply of a wide range of locally-sourced goods to cruise ships, including tobacco, pre-packaged food, cosmetics, and overseas animal and plant-based food products.

In the first quarter of 2025, major cruise companies declared about 14 million yuan worth of goods under this new direct supply model, according to Baoshan Customs.

With the introduction of the favorable policies, Shanghai's cruise industry has seen significant growth.

According to Shanghai Customs, the Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, Asia's largest international cruise port, handled 152 inbound and outbound international cruise calls in the first quarter of 2025, a 176.3-percent year-on-year increase and a 42.1-percent rise compared to 2019.

Source: thepaper.cn