Youyi Guan Border Gate Accelerates Digitalization to Boost Fruit Imports from ASEAN

Key summary

China's Youyi Guan border gate in Guangxi is deploying digital technologies and smart inspection systems to enhance customs clearance efficiency for imports from ASEAN, particularly durian. Data for January-September 2026 shows durian imports reached 739,000 tons (a 19% increase year-on-year), with a value of 17,610 million yuan in the first eight months alone. The gate is implementing three key digital measures: an intelligent vehicle queuing system that improved lane turnover by 35% and reduced waiting time by 20%; Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to replace manual data entry for up to four to five staff members daily; and a hybrid inspection model reducing pest analysis time from 3-5 days to under 36 hours. A new fruit laboratory opened in September 2026 increased testing capacity from 450 to 800 items per day, including specific tests for durian contaminants like Basic Yellow 2 and cadmium. Additionally, a cross-border smart port project between China and Vietnam, with an investment of approximately 1,060 million yuan, aims to complete by October 2027, targeting a 24-hour transit time from Nanning to Hanoi and a capacity of up to 2,880 containers daily once fully operational.