Shanghai's Hongqiao International Central Business District recorded more than 74.58 million cross-border e-commerce orders in the first half of 2026, with a total value exceeding 12.6 billion yuan ($1.87 billion). Both order volume and trade value increased 1.6-fold year-on-year, according to the district's administrative commission on July 31.

The strong performance was driven by the district's role as a pioneer zone for the Silk Road e-commerce initiative.

In the first half of 2026, business-to-consumer transactions grew 1.5 times in volume and 76 percent in value. Business-to-business exports surged 89.5 times in order volume and 92.8 times in value, while overseas warehouse exports jumped 98.1 times and 214.6 times, respectively.

The Hongqiao Business District Bonded Logistics Center handled approximately 63 percent of Shanghai's cross-border e-commerce import orders during the same period, and the value of its bonded imports rose 18 percent year on year. The center ranked first in the city by both bonded import order volume and trade value.

By the end of June, the district was home to more than 550 e-commerce enterprises, logistics providers, and related service firms, including nearly 200 that were established during the first half of the year, representing a 1.7-fold increase from a year earlier.

Digital innovation is also transforming cross-border e-commerce operations. A new collaborative supervision model enables real-time data sharing between e-commerce platforms and customs authorities, improving regulatory supervision.

The digital system has reduced the comprehensive parcel costs of pilot enterprises by 50 percent and boosted delivery efficiency by more than 50 percent, enabling two-hour delivery within a 7-kilometer radius and 48-hour delivery to major cities nationwide.

Smart logistics upgrades are further enhancing export operations. At the district's maritime export consolidation warehouse, an AI-powered container loading system has improved cargo handling efficiency while enabling real-time data sharing with customs.

By the end of June, the warehouse had shipped approximately 2,900 containers with a total cargo value exceeding $200 million, providing a stable and efficient sea freight route for Shanghai's cross-border e-commerce exports.

Source: Shanghai Observer