Zhejiang Province, Jinhua City, Jinyi Comprehensive Bonded Zone, cross-border e-commerce vertical warehouse staff are inspecting and shelving imported goods. Photo by Yang Meiqing (Image China) Data source: Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, Mapping by Wang Zheping.Core ReadingThrough cross-border e-commerce platforms, businesses directly engage with overseas users; utilizing AI business assistants to quickly generate product information; continuously enhancing compliance levels to meet international market consumption demands… Since the beginning of this year, China’s e-commerce companies have actively adopted new technologies, adapted to new trends, and cultivated new momentum. The development of cross-border e-commerce is showing a positive trend, providing new opportunities for brands to go global.Recently released data from the General Administration of Customs indicates that in the first three quarters of this year, China’s foreign trade import and export value has historically exceeded 32 trillion yuan for the same period, with cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reaching 1.88 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 11.5%. Driven by technological innovation and actively utilizing new technologies, adapting to new trends, and cultivating new momentum, cross-border e-commerce has become a vital force in China’s foreign trade development, offering more diverse shopping choices for global consumers.
Facing Overseas Customers and Promoting Product InnovationRecently, a batch of self-branded furniture worth 213,000 yuan from Zhejiang Hangzhou Daye Information Technology Co., Ltd. was exported through the cross-border e-commerce overseas warehouse model. “These pieces of furniture are designed and produced by us and are selling well on cross-border e-commerce platforms,” said Xu Tianxing, manager of the company’s foreign trade department.”Through cross-border e-commerce platforms, we directly connect with overseas customers to better grasp market rhythms and continuously drive product innovation,” Xu stated. The company has evolved from primarily OEM production to gradually building an independent brand and successfully establishing a foothold in overseas markets. Currently, the enterprise has rented over ten overseas warehouses in major export markets like Europe and America, exporting over 500 million yuan through the cross-border e-commerce overseas warehouse model in the first three quarters, a year-on-year growth of more than 30%.In Hangzhou, where a comprehensive pilot zone for cross-border e-commerce has been established, more foreign trade companies are proactively integrating into the development wave of cross-border e-commerce, actively cultivating their own brands and promoting domestic products to go global.At a live streaming base in Linping District of Hangzhou City, a host fluently introduces a fall trench coat to foreign consumers in English. Tao Hongjing, general manager of Zhejiang Senbo Clothing Co., Ltd., said, “Cross-border e-commerce provides new opportunities for clothing exports; based on current sales figures, this year’s clothing sales are expected to grow by about 30% year-on-year.”The decision from the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee emphasizes innovating digital trade development and advancing the construction of comprehensive pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce. “Cross-border e-commerce is rapidly growing and becoming a new highlight in global economic and trade fields as well as a vital force in China’s foreign trade development,” said an official from Hangzhou Customs. In the first three quarters, Zhejiang’s cross-border e-commerce exports exceeded 250 billion yuan, reaching a historical high with a year-on-year increase of over 20%.Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Enhance EfficiencyOn October 15th, the 136th Canton Fair opened with cross-border e-commerce as one of its key highlights. This fair featured an upgraded display area for cross-border e-commerce that attracted over 40 major platforms along with logistics and financial services providers to showcase services along the trade chain.The “2024 Cross-Border E-Commerce Insight White Paper” released at the fair indicated that with increasing global consumer demand for online shopping—especially mobile commerce—and accelerated global supply chain integration, the cross-border e-commerce industry faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Chinese sellers are becoming significant players in the global market due to their strong manufacturing capabilities, innovative products, and flexible supply chain management.To help more small and medium-sized foreign trade enterprises quickly go online and expand globally, cross-border e-commerce platforms are turning to artificial intelligence for efficiency improvements.At the September Trade Fair, Alibaba International Station showcased its AI-driven foreign trade products. Demonstrations showed that using an AI business assistant allows for rapid product listing; simply uploading a product image or keyword can automatically generate complete product information including titles and prices.Lü Hongwei, co-founder of Hebei Hangfa Technology Co., Ltd., mentioned that they have delegated most new product releases to AI business assistants. “Our salespeople took about 20 minutes per link while AI only took two minutes,” he noted.Currently, Alibaba International Station’s AI business assistant includes features such as intelligent product listing, customer reception automation, and market analysis. Products optimized by AI have significantly increased their chances of being searched and purchased by overseas buyers—data shows that exposure rates have risen by 37%, with over 30,000 small and medium enterprises globally utilizing this AI tool.Strengthening Policy Support to Cultivate Growth Momentum“Cross-border exports have entered a new growth cycle characterized by branding, ecological integration, and digitalization,” stated Zheng Min, chairman of Yibang Power. The integration of industrial clusters with cross-border e-commerce platforms is driving many factories engaged in foreign trade as well as traditional import-export businesses into this sector. The combination of online and offline channels is becoming key for foreign trade enterprises to build core competitiveness.Du Guochen, director of the E-Commerce Research Institute at the Ministry of Commerce’s International Trade Economic Cooperation Institute analyzed that as cross-border e-commerce’s global impact grows increasingly significant, Chinese e-commerce companies need to enhance their compliance levels regarding product standards and trade regulations to adapt to varying market requirements. There is also a need to improve integration between cross-border e-commerce and supply chains while transitioning from traditional order-based production models towards more agile responses involving smaller batches across multiple categories.To further promote cross-border e-commerce development and cultivate new momentum in foreign trade growth, China has implemented various policies including establishing comprehensive pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce and innovating customs supervision measures.”To meet international market consumption demands, China’s cross-border e-commerce trade continues stable growth,” stated an official from the Ministry of Commerce’s Foreign Trade Department. Active participants in nationwide cross-border e-commerce services now cover over 200 countries and regions; however challenges remain such as improving capabilities among participants and optimizing regulatory services.In June this year, nine departments including the Ministry of Commerce jointly issued guidelines aimed at expanding cross-border e-commerce exports while promoting overseas warehouse construction through various measures focused on nurturing operational entities within this sector. The Ministry plans to coordinate closely with relevant departments to ensure effective implementation of these tasks while promoting sustainable development within new foreign trade models.