Customs officers conduct a routine inspection at a duty-free store. (Source: hinews.cn)

Haikou Customs issued 7,575 certificates of origin in the first half of 2026, covering goods valued at CNY 4.561 billion, marking a 4.12% increase in volume and a 4.18% increase in value compared with the same period last year. These certificates supported exporters in Hainan's key sectors, including aquatic products, tropical agriculture, rubber and chemicals, nonwoven materials, and biopharmaceuticals. The exports reached over 100 countries and regions, including New Zealand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Certificates of origin are essential documents that customs authorities use to set tariff rates and grant preferential treatment under free trade agreements (FTAs). Often called the "golden passport" of international trade, they allow exporters to enjoy lower or zero tariffs in destination markets. Among the certificates issued by Haikou Customs, those under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area saw the most significant increases in both issuance volume and trade value.

Certificates issued under the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area showed strong momentum. In the first half of the year, Haikou Customs issued 1,706 certificates valued at CNY 1.957 billion, with year-on-year increases of 20.06% and 60.44%, respectively. Key exports to ASEAN included rubber and latex products, processed tropical fruits and vegetables, pulp, and construction materials, as businesses leveraged favorable FTA tariffs to expand their footprint in Southeast Asian markets.

Among them, Hainan Zhongxin Chemical Co., Ltd. obtained 52 China–ASEAN certificates of origin in the first half of the year, covering goods worth more than CNY 13.3 million and helping reduce import tariffs by more than CNY 660,000 in destination markets.

These policies are increasingly enhancing business competitiveness. Hainan Zhongyi Frozen Food Co., Ltd., which mainly exports frozen conger eel and tilapia fillets to Japan, has gained benefits from the RCEP.

"With RCEP certificates of origin, the tariff on our frozen conger eel fillets exported to Japan has dropped from 3.5% to 1.9%, giving us a stronger competitive edge in the regional market," said Wang Yingzi, the company's customs affairs manager.