Southwest China's Chongqing has seen a fresh upside momentum in its cross-border e-commerce, according to economic indexes recently released by the Chongqing Free Trade Port Area (CFTA) on Oct 12.

In the first eight months of 2018, the port area's cross-border e-commerce transactions reached 1.9 billion yuan ($274 million), a 162 percent surge compared with the same period last year.

The regional headquarters of Cainiao Network (Alibaba Group's logistics arm), Vip.com, Redhome and other major e-commerce players are leading the steady development of Chongqing's cross-border sector.

Chongqing Free Trade Port Area can handle up to 150,000 orders daily and cater to the needs of 32 e-commerce platform enterprises who have given their support to the port's integration of trade services and bonded logistics.

First-class logistics services are an important reason why many e-commerce platforms place their warehouses in the port area. The 24-hour logistics system can receive orders at any time and deliver goods within 24 hours. It's reported that 99.98 percent of the orders arrive on time.

As China's first free trade area with both a water port and an air port, CFTA is responding to the Belt and Road Initiative by using cross-border e-commerce to bridge in-land areas and overseas markets.

Located in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area, CFTA will take advantage of the pilot area's resources and function as a powerhouse of Southwest China's export-oriented economy, according to the Development and Management Group of CFTA.

Night view of the Chongqing Free Trade Port Area in Liangjiang New Area. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]