By Zhao Yu

Black Friday, originating in the US, has evolved into a global buying spree — and Ningbo's exporters are riding the wave. Leveraging the seasonal spike in demand, local companies have shipped a broad range of China-made goods to markets worldwide.

Data from Ningbo Airport Customs show that the week before Black Friday was the busiest period of the year for cross-border e-commerce exports. The airport processed more than one million outbound parcels — nearly 20% higher than normal weekly volumes.

Ningbo's primary export route for cross-border e-commerce remains the Ningbo–Anchorage route, carrying mainly apparel, footwear, hats, imitation jewelry and everyday consumer goods. More than 80% of shipments were clothing, shoes, accessories and small daily-use items such as stationery, doll parts and outdoor gear.

"A significant share of cargo on this route are SHEIN orders bound for the U.S.," said Pan Jinghua, head of Zhejiang Sinotrans Co., Ltd. "Suppliers in Ningbo and nearby cities no longer need to route goods through Hangzhou or Shanghai. During the Black Friday period, SHEIN alone averaged around 140,000 parcels per week on this route."

Despite the surge, airport customs kept clearance moving. Officials opened dedicated lanes providing inspection and release on arrival, assigned additional staff, and offered full-process support — ensuring zero delays at the port.

Pan estimates the improvements cut logistics time by roughly 30%.

Merchants' concerns about overseas returns have also eased. Diversified, fast-track return mechanisms mean Chinese sellers can ship without fear of stock buildup abroad, allowing global consumers to buy with ease of mind.