East China province poised to build bulk commodity hub

Zhejiang Province, an economic powerhouse located on the southeastern coast of China, is set to build a "bulk commodity resource allocation hub" within its free trade zone, according to a plan released by the Ministry of Commerce and the provincial government.

The hub will be built primarily in Zhoushan, an archipelago city known for its maritime industries, and the neighboring city of Ningbo will also be involved. The Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is the world's busiest port by cargo throughput.

By 2030, an array of islands within the hub will have developed distinctive functions covering the entire bulk commodity industrial chain, including storage, transportation, deep processing, maritime services, and trade and transactions, according to the plan.

To achieve these goals, the hub will have enhanced infrastructure for bulk commodity storage and transportation, with a focus on developing the pipeline network for crude oil, refined oil and natural gas.

Financial institutions will be encouraged to support these infrastructure projects through various financing means, including equity investment, bond issuance, private funds and insurance products.

The hub will feature a comprehensive bonded zone dedicated to bulk commodity trading, per the plan. It will also encourage foreign banks to open local branches, and support qualified banking institutions in providing specialized services for bulk commodity trading.

The plan is part of China's strategy to elevate free trade zones nationwide. China's trade in goods has ranked first globally for seven consecutive years, and the country is now a major trading partner of over 140 nations and regions.