In a landmark reform, Shanghai Customs has introduced a blockchain-powered digital supervision model at the Hongqiao Business District Bonded Logistics Center (Hongqiao B-Bond), the city's largest cross-border e-commerce import hub. The pilot, launched with JD International, shifts the regulatory paradigm from inspecting physical goods at checkpoints to penetrating enterprise data across the entire supply chain.
The system integrates 11 categories of enterprise data—covering procurement, warehousing, logistics, and payments—into a multi-chain collaborative framework comprising the enterprise order chain, logistics supply chain, customs supervision chain, and shipping-trade blockchain. An intelligent backend model cross-verifies order authenticity and compliance in real time, creating a closed loop of "pre-event risk warning, in-event seamless verification, and post-event full traceability."
The results are compelling. During the 2026 "618" shopping festival, Hongqiao B-Bond processed over 50,000 orders daily, a 13.6% year-on-year i
NCRease. For the January-May period, JD International's pilot orders at Hongqiao B-Bond reached RMB 1.68 billion, up 8.9% year-on-year, with overall logistics delivery efficiency improving by 16.1%.
The broader picture is even more striking. In 2025, Hongqiao B-Bond handled 14.868 million cross-border e-commerce import orders, accounting for over 60% of Shanghai's total, with growth exceeding 20%. Nationwide, China's cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reached RMB 618.46 billion in Q1 2026 alone.
Behind every "seamless customs clearance" experience lies a physical infrastructure of
labels, waybills, and shipping documentation—and that's where the implications for the specialty paper industry become clear.
1. Volume Growth Drives Label Demand
More orders mean more packages, and more packages mean more labels. With Hongqiao B-Bond alone processing 50,000+ daily orders during peak periods, and the model expanding across the Yangtze River Delta, the cumulative demand for thermal
shipping labels, waybills, and packing slips is scaling rapidly.
2. Traceability Requires Better Labels
The blockchain-based "full traceability" model demands that every package carry scannable, durable labels that remain legible throughout the supply chain—from bonded warehouse to last-mile delivery. Thermal label paper that resists smudging, moisture, and abrasion is essential for maintaining data integrity across multiple handling points.
3. Faster Turnaround, Tighter Tolerances
A 16.1% improvement in logistics efficiency means goods move faster—and labels must perform flawlessly under tighter turnaround times. High-sensitivity thermal paper that delivers crisp, instant printing at speed becomes a competitive advantage for logistics operators racing to meet "hourly delivery" promises.
4. Multi-Part Documentation Still Essential
Despite digitalization, cross-border trade still requires physical documentation: invoices, customs declarations, and packing lists. Multi-part carbonless paper (computer forms) remains the backbone of compliant international trade documentation, particularly in markets where digital customs systems are still maturing.
5. Regulatory Compliance Tightens
Shanghai Customs identified five categories of non-compliance issues during the pilot, including product name declaration discrepancies and questionable payment timestamps. As regulators raise the bar on documentation accuracy, the quality and clarity of printed shipping labels and customs documents become even more critical—poor-quality thermal paper that fades or smudges could become a compliance risk.
The reform is not stopping at Shanghai. Shanghai Customs is actively promoting the model to other customs districts across the Yangtze River Delta, with coordinated efforts on data standardization, technical interfacing, and joint risk prevention. The pilot experience is also being extended to cross-border e-commerce exports—a segment that far exceeds imports in volume and could multiply the label demand impact several times over.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" explicitly supports cross-border e-commerce as a new trade format, and the 2026 Government Work Report calls for upgrading the "cross-border e-commerce + overseas warehouse" model. As policy tailwinds and digital infrastructure converge, the structural growth in cross-border e-commerce label demand is set to accelerate.
As cross-border e-commerce scales new heights, the demand for high-performance thermal and carbonless paper products is growing in lockstep. HESHUO® manufactures three-proof thermal label paper engineered for the rigors of modern logistics—waterproof, oil-proof, and alcohol-resistant, with crisp, durable printing that stays legible from warehouse to doorstep.
Our BPA/BPS-free thermal paper, FSC-certified carbonless computer forms, and multi-part business documentation products meet the exacting standards of international supply chains. Whether it's a shipping label scanned at a blockchain-enabled customs checkpoint or a multi-part invoice accompanying a cross-border shipment, HESHUO® delivers the reliability that modern trade demands.
When trade goes digital, labels go premium. That's the HESHUO® advantage.
Data source: Shanghai Customs, June 2026. China News Service; Shanghai Observer; CNR.cn. 
