(ECNS) -- A shipment of cargo labelled with "Smart and Secure Trade Lane (SSTL)" completed customs clearance on Sunday at Xiamen Customs in southeast China's Fujian Province.

With the goods valued at 5.254 million yuan (about $736,800), the vessel is bound for South Africa, marking the official opening of the China-South Africa SSTL pilot route, as well as the first SSTL route established between China and other BRICS countries.

The China-South Africa SSTL route allows relevant enterprises to enjoy priority customs clearance in both China and South Africa. Once goods have been inspected by the customs authority of the exporting country, they will not be reinspected by the importing country, thus reducing logistics costs for businesses.

Cai Yi, director of the Port Supervision Department of Xiamen Customs, explained that enterprises applying for participation should be manufacturing companies with stable South African partners, and at least one party must be an Authorized Economic Operator.

Xiamen Port now operates 24 BRICS shipping routes connecting six countries and 20 ports. From January to July, Xiamen Port handled 248,200 TEUs in imports and exports with other BRICS nations, up 4.9% year on year.

(By Gong Weiwei)