Xiamen Customs officials check cargoes on the BRICS route. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]
The ET3745 flight, carrying 89 metric tons of export goods, including cross-border e-commerce parcels, machinery, and postal items, departed from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport on Feb 9, marking the successful completion of all flight operations for the third anniversary of China's first dedicated cross-border e-commerce air freight route serving BRICS cities.
Over the past three years, this "golden corridor" linking Xiamen with Sao Paulo, Brazil, has strengthened the economic and trade ties between the two countries and the wider South American region.
Since the launch of the dedicated BRICS air route on Feb 10, 2023, local customs had overseen a total of 708 cargo flights on this route and as of Feb 10 this year, handling 46,500 tons of imports and exports and facilitating the shipment of over 47 million cross-border e-commerce parcels.
Operated by Ethiopian Airlines with three weekly flights, the route primarily exports products such as apparel, footwear, and daily essentials, while return flights carry fresh seasonal produce like South American plums, grapes, cherries, and salmon — creating a vibrant two-way flow of global goods.
The fast and affordable delivery of South American fresh produce to Chinese consumers owes much to the route's efficiency and cost advantages. Over the past three years, a total of 14,000 tons of fresh products have been imported through this dedicated BRICS air route.
Meanwhile, the route also serves as a stable and efficient "fast lane" for Chinese cross-border e-commerce parcels. It has reduced cargo transit times by three to five days while lowering transportation costs.
Forty-one new port-of-entry duty-free shops have been established nationwide, with Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport, Xiamen Wutong Passenger Wharf, and Xiamen International Cruise Center included on the list.
China unveiled the 2025 version of the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment, outlining key measures to attract and use foreign capital with greater efforts.
