Chongqing - A shipment of laptops worth 12.49 million yuan (about 1.84 million U.S. dollars) departed Chongqing for Amsterdam on June 25, marking the launch of western China's first integrated pre-airport air cargo facility with on-site customs clearance and security screening.

The new facility enables manufacturers to get high-value exports such as electronics onto international flights more quickly, reducing turnaround times and improving the efficiency of global supply chains.

A truck is loaded with export cargo at the Chongqing Jiangbei Airport Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Zone pre-airport cargo station. (Photo/Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport)

Located in the Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Zone, a major manufacturing and trade hub in western China, the facility has a 4,840-square-meter warehouse and an annual cargo handling capacity of 50,000 tons. Authorities said its services and operational standards match those of the main cargo terminal at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.

The Chongqing Jiangbei Airport Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Zone pre-airport cargo station. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

The Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Zone accounts for about 40% of the city's foreign trade and produces roughly a quarter of the world's laptops. In 2025, its trade value reached 281.29 billion yuan, driven by exports of smart devices, integrated circuits and cross-border e-commerce goods.

Today, the zone hosts more than 100 companies, including HP, Foxconn, Quanta, Inventec, SK Hynix and Bosch, making it one of the world's largest electronics manufacturing hubs. Beyond laptops, it has expanded into semiconductors, cross-border e-commerce and automotive logistics, reflecting the shift of China's inland regions toward higher-value industries.

Zhao Liang, deputy general manager of the Logistics Management Department at Chongqing Airport Group, said that with the new system, international air cargo such as high-end manufactured goods and cross-border e-commerce products can complete the entire logistics chain within the industrial park. 

This includes customs clearance, inspection, cargo acceptance, security screening, and pallet assembly, effectively shifting airport cargo functions closer to production facilities. The model creates a seamless airport-to-industrial-park logistics channel, reducing intermediate handling steps.

"The system significantly improves efficiency compared with traditional cargo handling models. Enterprises in the zone can reduce logistics costs by more than 20% and cut customs clearance time by 5 to 8 hours," Zhao said.

During trial operations, the hub has already handled eight batches of cargo totaling 71 tons, with a value of about 165 million yuan. The fastest turnaround time from handover to aircraft loading was four hours.

The project supports China's efforts to upgrade bonded zones and improve trade efficiency. Developed with customs, civil aviation and local authorities, it integrates one-stop cargo services and a digital logistics platform to simplify procedures and shorten clearance times.

Officials said the new cargo hub will boost air freight capacity, better support manufacturing and exports, and strengthen Chongqing's role as an international logistics hub while enhancing the competitiveness of its aviation supply chain.