The Hongqiao "cross-border e-commerce + industrial belt" pilot zone reported its 2026 declared export volume exceeded 10 billion yuan (US$1.49 billion) as of September 27, with more than 77 million declaration orders filed.

Launched in July 2025, the foreign trade innovation hub based in Qingpu and serving the broader Yangtze River Delta has hit the milestone in just over one year of operation.

Supported by national and regional policy frameworks, the zone is part of the second batch of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone linked innovation areas.

Cross-border e-commerce stands as one of Qingpu's three 10-billion-yuan industrial clusters, alongside large-scale modern logistics sectors. It empowers five local industrial segments including intelligent manufacturing, smart home goods, fashion beauty, health and leisure products, and industrial supplies.

Digital intelligence has streamlined customs supervision.

At Baihe pre-warehouse, Shanghai's first maritime pre-consolidation warehouse for cross-border e-commerce exports, an AI digital twin system delivers centimeter-level positioning for parcels inside containers.

The technology cuts physical inspection work, with parcel location accuracy above 90 percent. A blockchain shipping and trade platform also records cargo data, inspection footage and monitoring records. The region completed Shanghai's first "AI-powered smart loading" cross-border e-commerce export shipment in June.

Warehouse expansion further lowers costs for exporters. The Baihe warehouse doubled its space to more than 8,000 square meters in June. The new setup slashes delivery cycles from over 20 days to 11 days. New business formats allow small and medium-sized enterprises across the Yangtze River Delta to access affordable international logistics.

A one-stop service center bundles business registration, tax liaison and customs filing. Processing time has been shortened from more than 60 days to as fast as 30 days. The zone has attracted 593 companies, forming a complete industrial ecosystem covering e-commerce operators, agents, service providers and logistics firms.

CHOOKOO, a local cross-border firm making AI-powered smart litter boxes for pets, is one beneficiary. Its product uses an AI model to alert owners of potential urinary and intestinal illnesses 48 to 72 hours in advance, with sales reaching Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia and Russia. Co-founder

Ye Junjun, deputy director of the Baihe Town Economic Development Office, said authorities focused on business recruitment, resolving operational bottlenecks, supporting policy applications and developing dedicated industrial buildings covering 12,400 square meters.