On December 18, the Hainan Free Trade Port will officially launch an island-wide customs closure. As a “water artery” connecting Guangdong and Qiongzhou, the Qiongzhou Strait's shipping safety and traffic efficiency are directly related to the smooth implementation of customs clearance operations. The reporter learned from the Zhanjiang Maritime Department that as customs closure approaches, passenger and cargo volume in the Qiongzhou Strait is showing a “warm-up” increase. According to data, passenger and vehicle traffic in the Qiongzhou Strait in early December this year increased by 9%, 23%, and 18%, respectively, compared to early November, while NEV traffic increased 27%. According to forecasts, during the 2026 Spring Festival travel season, the number of visitors to the Qiongzhou Strait is expected to reach 4.97 million passengers and 1.16 million vehicles, a significant increase over previous years. Meanwhile, the share of new energy vehicles in ferry traffic continues to rise. It is estimated that the 2026 Spring Festival travel season will account for 28%, and the daily ferry traffic will reach 6,200 vehicles, an increase of 100% over the previous year.

On December 18, the Hainan Free Trade Port will officially launch an island-wide customs closure. As a “water artery” connecting Guangdong and Qiongzhou, the Qiongzhou Strait's shipping safety and traffic efficiency are directly related to the smooth implementation of customs clearance operations. The reporter learned from the Zhanjiang Maritime Department that as customs closure approaches, passenger and cargo volume in the Qiongzhou Strait is showing a “warm-up” increase. According to data, passenger and vehicle traffic in the Qiongzhou Strait in early December this year increased by 9%, 23%, and 18%, respectively, compared to early November, while NEV traffic increased 27%. According to forecasts, during the 2026 Spring Festival travel season, the number of visitors to the Qiongzhou Strait is expected to reach 4.97 million passengers and 1.16 million vehicles, a significant increase over previous years. Meanwhile, the share of new energy vehicles in ferry traffic continues to rise. It is estimated that the 2026 Spring Festival travel season will account for 28%, and the daily ferry traffic will reach 6,200 vehicles, an increase of 100% over the previous year.