Cross-border e-commerce goods are loaded onto a plane. [Photo/Tide News]

Hangzhou's airport recorded a historic high in international cargo throughput in 2025, with imports and exports weighing in a total of 252,600 metric tons, up 10.2 percent year-on-year, according to Hangzhou International Airport.

Cargo volume rose steadily throughout the year, climbing from 53,600 tons in the first quarter to over 73,100 tons in the fourth, marking a clear quarter-by-quarter surge and underscoring the airport's growing role as Zhejiang's largest air gateway and a key logistics hub in the Yangtze River Delta.

Efficient customs clearance played a major role in the growth. With the launch of the province's first comprehensive designated airport supervision facility, imports of fresh products expanded rapidly. In 2025, the port handled 5,606 tons of imported chilled aquatic products and 423 tons of fruit, representing year-on-year increases of 81-fold and nearly 286 percent, respectively.

Cross-border e-commerce remained the main driver of exports. The port processed more than 209 million export parcels in 2025, accounting for about 70 percent of total outbound cargo by volume. General cargo also grew steadily, reaching 95,200 tons for the year.

Supported by streamlined procedures and an expanding route network, Hangzhou airport now operates 28 international cargo routes, with around 120 weekly freighter flights, further strengthening its position as a high-efficiency international logistics hub.

Custom officers inspect chilled salmon imported from overseas. [Photo/Tide News]