Ceke Port in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region reported robust growth in the first quarter, with total imports and exports reaching 3 billion yuan ($436.3 million), up 30 percent year-on-year.

Cargo throughput exceeded 9.18 million metric tons, while more than 135,000 cross-border passenger trips and 121,000 vehicle crossings were recorded.

These figures represent increases of 83 percent, 72 percent, and 81 percent, respectively, marking the highest levels for this period since the port began operations.

The port attributed the strong performance to coordinated efforts with customs and border inspection authorities to ensure efficient daily clearance and stable cross-border logistics.

Authorities have strengthened enterprise support by introducing dedicated service windows, conducting regular outreach to businesses, and addressing operational needs to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Infrastructure upgrades and streamlined procedures have also been prioritized, including the construction of dedicated lanes for oversized and heavy cargo, effectively easing clearance bottlenecks.

In addition, Ceke Port has continued to enhance its "single window" online services, while promoting appointment-based clearance and joint inspections. These measures have shortened declaration times and improved clearance efficiency, ensuring safe and smooth operations.

While consolidating traditional trade, the port is also fostering new growth drivers by diversifying export categories and optimizing its trade structure.

Efforts to advance smart port development and green logistics have further supported high-quality growth. Automated guided vehicles are now widely used for cargo handling, and 5G-enabled intelligent heavy trucks have been deployed for cross-border transport, enabling automated convoying, smart dispatching, and safer operations.

Meanwhile, the expanded use of new energy vehicles across loading, unloading, and transportation processes is helping to boost efficiency and sustainability.