Hainan Free Trade Port is off to a blistering start. Special customs measures rolled out across the entire island on December 18, 2025, have unleashed a torrent of economic vitality within weeks.
Customs figures show 5,132 new foreign trade enterprises popping up from December 18 to January 17, 2026. Investors worldwide are flocking to what’s fast becoming China’s premier trade hub.
Haikou’s Chu He from customs reports the service hotline ringing off the hook with 100+ calls daily, reflecting feverish interest. Approval processes are now 60% faster, with departments providing clear, actionable advice.
The frontline zone supervised 750 million yuan of duty-free goods, injecting fresh capital into local industries, medical facilities, and innovation centers. Transport sectors leveraged tax-free vessels and aircraft for smoother operations.
In the second-line domain, 85.867 million yuan in processed duty-free products flowed to mainland markets, enabling Hainan firms to scale up chains and profits.
Duty-free retail smashed benchmarks at 4.86 billion yuan, a 46.8% leap. Shoppers numbered 745,000 (up 30.2%), snapping up 3.494 million items (14.6% growth).
Passenger traffic at Hainan airports jumped 48.8% to 311,000. These successes affirm the customs overhaul’s potency, blending commerce and tourism into a powerhouse engine for growth.