Xiamen Airport handles more than 100 million cross-border e-commerce export parcels this year. [Photo/VCG]

Xiamen Airport has handled more than 100 million cross-border e-commerce export parcels this year, reaching this milestone over 40 days earlier than last year, after a batch of clothing parcels cleared customs and was shipped out on Oct 26 under Xiamen Airport Customs supervision.

Three advantages support this strong performance: a dense network of air routes, a mature logistics system, and efficient customs services.

Xiamen Airport now operates 40 passenger and cargo routes capable of carrying cross-border e-commerce parcels, connecting 21 countries and regions including the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Of these, 11 are freighter routes, mainly to the US, Mexico, and Southeast Asian countries, while 29 are passenger routes using belly-hold capacity, mostly to Southeast Asia.

Cross-border e-commerce shipments are typically small, frequent, highly varied, and time-sensitive, with small and medium-sized merchants accounting for a growing share of shipments. Xiamen Lianduo Trading, a small e-commerce company, helps sellers ship goods overseas, mainly household items. A company official said regular parcels can reach overseas consumers in as little as three days after leaving the country.

To speed up clearance, Xiamen Airport Customs has integrated supervision into the security screening process, allowing goods to be scanned once, with customs officers and security personnel reviewing the results simultaneously.