"Water-to-Water Transfer" Multi-Modal Transport Supervision Mode Officially Implemented at Huangpu Port

According to Huangpu Customs on April 8, a shipment of 78 tonnes of kraft paper imported from Europe recently completed a transshipment operation at Nansha Port in Guangzhou. It was then transported via inland waterways to the Guangzhou Container Terminal under the jurisdiction of Huangpu Xingang Customs, utilizing the "Water-to-Water Transfer" multi-modal transport mode. This marks the first consignment at Huangpu Port since the General Administration of Customs (GACC) launched this supervision mode via Announcement No. 12 of 2026. It signals the official implementation of the "One Declaration, One Document Through" regulatory model for "Water-to-Water Transfers" at Huangpu Port.
Compared to the traditional transit mode, the "Water-to-Water Transfer" multi-modal transport eliminates the cumbersome process of multiple declarations and segmented processing. Enterprises now only need to submit a single multi-modal transport application through the International Trade "Single Window" to cover the entire logistics process. Relying on information interoperability between customs and ports, multiple operational links can be processed automatically. This achieves a "seamless transfer" characterized by streamlined data, more convenient procedures, and highly flexible logistics.
"Now, we only need one multi-modal transport application to cover the entire journey. Midway transshipments require no extra hassle and can be processed automatically just by transmitting electronic data. With the cargo flowing smoothly, the pressure on our documentation work has been significantly reduced," said Liu Zhiwei, a manager at Guangzhou Dingsheng Logistics Co., Ltd.
Yan Ping, Assistant General Manager of Guangzhou Container Terminal Co., Ltd., noted: "The new mode further strengthens the linkage between feeder ports and hub ports. It provides import and export enterprises with a more efficient and convenient choice, further driving down logistics costs."
To guarantee the smooth implementation of this new mode, the Port Supervision Division of Huangpu Customs collaborated with Huangpu Xingang Customs to proactively reach out to various stakeholders, including shipping agencies, terminal operators, and import/export enterprises. They conducted policy briefings and provided precise "point-to-point" business guidance in advance, ensuring comprehensive support across all stages—from filing and declaration to final release—facilitating the successful landing of this first consignment.
Huangpu Customs stated that it will continue to advance cross-border trade facilitation reforms within its jurisdiction, deepen inter-customs coordinated supervision, and steadily improve the supporting measures for multi-modal transport. It is committed to building Huangpu Port into an efficient and convenient sea-river intermodal hub, effectively consolidating transportation resources and helping enterprises reduce costs while enhancing efficiency. (By Xu Qingqing, Zeng Baizhen)