A 40-ton shipment of concentrated latex imported by Danzhou Weilin Rubber Co., Ltd. from Vietnam successfully cleared customs. (Source: Hainan Daily)

On September 11, a shipment of 40 metric tons of concentrated latex from Vietnam cleared customs in Hainan, saving local importer Danzhou Weilin Rubber Co., Ltd. CNY 36,000 in import taxes. It marked the first time a homegrown private rubber company in Hainan benefited from the zero-tariff policy for imported raw materials.

Based in Heqing Town, Danzhou City, Weilin Rubber operates three production lines making latex thread from natural rubber. Its thread is used in more than 100 types of products, including shorts, socks, and elastic bands. The company produces about 600 metric tons a month, with annual output valued at approximately CNY 120 million.

Hainan is a major natural rubber-producing region in China, but tapping is suspended for a period each winter. To keep production running, the company imports concentrated latex from Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.

"Most of our raw materials come from Hainan, but we need imports to supplement supplies during the winter tapping suspension," said Mo Liuxian, the company's factory manager. Previously, imported concentrated latex was subject to tariffs. Thanks to Hainan Free Trade Port's landmark zero-tariff policies, shipments like the one cleared by customs on September 11 are exempted from import duties, bringing the company substantial savings and further reducing its production costs.

With imported raw materials now costing less, the company plans to continue sourcing concentrated latex from Southeast Asia as production requires, expand capacity, and explore overseas markets. It is currently planning to export its products to Bangladesh, Türkiye, and other markets.