Xiamen ramps up efforts to improve port competitiveness

Xiamen port authority is launching a series of moves to improve Xiamen's port competitiveness.

The moves come off following the news that Xiamen port handled more than 10 million customers in 2017 for the first time, ranking 14th in the world, according to Xiamen Customs.

These moves are deemed necessary by local authorities to keep the port on an upward trajectory and to improve the port's competitiveness.

Chargers for foreign trade at Xiamen port can be divided into governmental and non-governmental agencies and charges from the latter account for 90 percent of the whole charges, according to the local port authority.

The charges from government at Xiamen port are the lowest among the main ports along the coastal area of the Chinese mainland.

The Xiamen port agency, therefore, aims to reduce the charges from non-governmental agencies.

A price list for charges from non-governmental agencies at Xiamen port was released recently to cut back on and combine charge items and lower the overall prices of regular charge items by 30 percent.

It's estimated that around 30 million yuan ($4.71 million) would be saved by the move for the companies at Xiamen port.

"Charge reduction is just one measure and the ultimate goal is to speed up customs clearance and logistics and improve its overall competitiveness," head of Xiamen port authority said.

Constructing a "smart port" is the key to the development plans for the port.

A smart logistics platform for containers was put into operation at Xiamen port two years ago.

The platform has been successful in increasing the efficiency of the port, such as reducing each container car's pass time from 96 seconds to 26.

Additionally, a credit management platform for the port's shipping and port companies has recently come into service and a regulation to award and punish companies that successfully or fail to keep their promises is under negotiation.