Two customs officials inspect new energy vehicles to be exported at a port in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province witnessed a notable upswing in the export of new energy vehicles in 2023, with more than 68,000 units valued at 9.46 billion yuan ($1.31 billion) passing through its ports throughout the year, as reported by Ningbo Customs.

This achievement signifies a substantial year-on-year increase of 46.1 percent in quantity and 60.6 percent in value, underscoring the city's growing influence in the new energy vehicle sector.

The success can be attributed to the presence of industry leaders such as Geely, as well as a robust automotive component ecosystem. Notably, domestic brands like Geely and Lynk & Co have gained increasing international recognition, solidifying Ningbo's pivotal role in the industry.

The number of countries and regions importing new energy vehicles from Ningbo expanded to 101 in 2023, with Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates emerging as top importers. Belgium received new energy vehicles worth 3.74 billion yuan, marking a 9.8 percent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, the Netherlands experienced a remarkable 23.1-fold increase, with exports reaching 1.49 billion yuan. Similarly, the United Arab Emirates imported new energy vehicles worth 1.24 billion yuan, reflecting a modest 0.43 percent year-on-year growth. Collectively, these three destinations accounted for 68.4 percent of new energy vehicle exports from Ningbo ports during the same period.

To facilitate seamless export operations, Ningbo Customs has implemented various measures, including the introduction of a 24/7 head-of-time declaration service to streamline customs clearance processes. These efforts have significantly enhanced the efficiency of vehicle collection at the port, ushering in a new era of expedited clearance for exported vehicles.