Produce has easier access to Central Asia

Fresh farm produce from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (northwest China) and other provinces n…

Fresh farm produce from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (northwest China) and other provinces now are more quickly served on the dinner table of families in Central Asia, thanks to optimized customs services.

Value of the trade of agricultural products via Urumqi Customs reached 661 million yuan ($96.7 million) in the first ten months of 2018, up 7.95 percent year-on-year, according to figures released by Urumqi Customs.

The main exports of agricultural products included apples, peaches, citrus fruits, peppers, and tomatoes. The export growth of ketchup reached 12.8 percent year-on-year during the period.

Horgos Highway Port is one of China's most important distributing centers exporting fruit and vegetables to Central Asia. A customs official stated that agricultural goods from Xinjiang and other Chinese provinces could reach markets in Central Asian countries as quickly as in one day, via this Port: "With the new highway port being put into use this year, the average customs clearance time has been shortened from four hours to two hours.”

According to an article on xinhuanet.com, other land customs include Buktu Pass, Karasu Pass, Turgat Pass and Irkeshtan Pass bordering with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and other Central Asian countries. These can also offer efficient customs clearance service to ensure fresh farm produce go through in two hours.