Cargo ships dock at Yangpu Port container terminal. (Source: HiNews)

In recent years, Hainan has accelerated the development of an international bonded bunkering center and continued to further open up its ports to the outside world.

In the first three quarters of this year, it has refueled 536 international ships with a total of nearly 250,000 tons of fuel oil, enabling these giants of the sea to set off into the blue with full stomachs while saving money.

The oil these ships take on is bonded, meaning it is exempt from taxes. For ports, bonded bunkering (refueling) is a core function of their roles as international shipping centers. Compared with refueling with regular fuels, shipping companies can save around 15% in costs by refueling their ships at these ports.

Recently, the Panamanian cargo ship Fortune Prosperity refueled a total of 320 tons of fuel oil and 30 tons of light diesel at Hainan's Yangpu Port, saving the company approximately CNY 640,000 in one go. This vivid example demonstrates the effectiveness of supplying bonded bunkering services in enhancing ports' competitiveness and attractiveness.

Jiang Yufeng, Director of the Dangerous Goods and Pollution Prevention Center at Yangpu Maritime Safety Administration (MSA), has witnessed the continuous benefits of Hainan's bonded bunkering policy: Starting from refueling 420 vessels with a total of 217,500 tons of fuel in 2021, operations expanded to 683 ships totaling 276,100 tons in 2024, and 536 vessels taking on 248,900 tons in Q1-Q3 this year alone.

Yangpu Port. (Source: HiNews)

Figures show that over the past five years, Hainan has refueled 2,510 international vessels (including those engaged in both domestic and foreign trade), averaging over 500 operations per year, with a cumulative fuel total exceeding 1.13 million tons.

To date, Yangpu Port has established 58 shipping routes, comprising 32 foreign trade routes, 18 domestic trade routes, and 8 combined domestic and foreign trade routes, building a shipping network that "radiates domestically, connects ASEAN, spans two oceans, and links globally."

To improve service efficiency, Hainan has established anchorage areas outside ports and commissioned "mobile gas stations" for international vessels. It has also reduced the documents needed by over 90%, making "immediate refueling and departure" for international vessels a reality.

In May of this year, Yangpu Port launched routes to North America's West and East Coasts, followed by new direct services to South America's West Coast in October, which has enabled direct cargo delivery to Peru's Chancay Port without transshipment, cutting shipping times by 7-10 days. This has put Hainan within reach of certain South American specialty fresh produce, like fruits and seafood.