In a significant move to bolster Wuhan's burgeoning automotive industry, the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone (WEDZ) is seeking approval for the temporary opening of a national first-class port at the Hannan Port area.
If granted, this development will elevate the port's operational capabilities and enhance the efficiency of multi-modal transportation, significantly benefiting the export of locally manufactured vehicles.
The application covers two operational zones within the Hannan Port area: the Hannan Port and WEDZ Port. Hannan Port is the largest automobile roll-on/roll-off port in the mid-upper reaches of the Yangtze River, boasting an annual vehicle handling capacity of 300,000 units.
The WEDZ Port features a comprehensive terminal with 330 meters of shoreline, three berths, and a designed annual cargo throughput capacity of 2.3 metric million tons, including 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
A representative from Hannan Port highlighted that the approval of a first-class port status would revolutionize this process, allowing WEDZ-made vehicles to undergo customs declarations, inspections, and clearances directly within the zone in no more than two working days.
This streamlined process promises local customs declarations, same-day inspections, same-day clearances, and next-day shipping, thereby reducing congestion, cutting costs, and improving overall transportation efficiency.
Statistics showed that WEDZ's vehicle export value exceeded 10 billion yuan ($1.41 billion) in 2023, marking a 194.61 percent year-on-year increase. It expects to export 100,000 vehicles this year, a 43 percent increase, with an export value of 17 billion yuan, up 47 percent from the previous year.
