Hainan Free Trade Port closed for half a year: Policy dividends continue to be released, Lingao companies seize new opportunities for development

China News Service, Hainan Lingao, June 18 (Chen Yingqing) It has been half a year since the Hainan Free Trade Port launched the island-wide customs closure on December 18, 2025. The author recently visited Lingao, Hainan and learned that policy dividends have continued to be released since the closure of the customs, and local companies have enjoyed the benefits to seize new opportunities for development.

Walking into the production workshop of China Railway Construction and Construction Development (Hainan) Co., Ltd. located in Lingao Jinjinggang Development Zone, workers are stepping up the production of prefabricated building products. "Since the customs closure for half a year, we have successively won bids for five key projects. According to the production schedule, we have been scheduled to October this year." Liu Wei, deputy general manager of China Railway Construction and Construction Development (Hainan) Co., Ltd., said in an interview that the customs closure operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port has continued to drive steady growth in local engineering construction demand.

On June 15, in the production workshop of China Railway Construction and Construction Development (Hainan) Co., Ltd., workers were stepping up the production of prefabricated building products. Photo by Chen Yingqing

Liu Wei said that the company enjoys the tax benefit of 15% corporate income tax for encouraged industries in the Hainan Free Trade Port. Compared with the 25% tax rate in the mainland, the tax burden of enterprises has been greatly reduced. "In the second half of the year, we will continue to explore the market and seize opportunities."

Kangzhuang Zhugong Technology (Hainan) Co., Ltd., a prefabricated construction company also located in Lingao Jinggang Development Zone, has been producing new building materials such as autoclaved aerated concrete panels (ALC panels) since its establishment and operation in 2021. Since it was put into production, the company has continued to receive orders for projects such as schools, medical institutions, and health care bases, and its business covers all cities and counties in Hainan.

Shi Shuai, the company's financial director, said that the development momentum released by the Hainan Free Trade Port has attracted a large number of people to start businesses, work and live here, driving the continued growth of demand for the construction of supporting facilities for education, medical care and health care. At the same time, the free trade port’s policies and location advantages also empower the development of enterprises. “The company relies on the free trade port’s ‘double 15%’ income tax policy to reduce operating costs.”

On June 15, at Hainan Baolu Aquatic Technology Co., Ltd., workers checked the growth of tilapia. Photo by Chen Yingqing

Hainan Baolu Aquatic Technology Co., Ltd. has been rooted in Lingao for many years, focusing on tilapia breeding, reproduction and sales. "The company's breeding and breeding require high-precision instruments and production equipment. This year we imported a set of vacuum pumps from France, enjoying the 'zero tariff' policy and reducing scientific research costs." Wang Shuangyao, the company's R&D director, said that the funds saved can be used for the company's subsequent research and development work, thereby enhancing the company's core competitiveness.

Hainan implements a visa-free entry policy for 86 countries, ranking among the top in the country in terms of openness and convenience, making it easier for enterprises to carry out cross-border business cooperation. Wang Shuangyao said that after the Hainan Free Trade Port was closed, the company signed a 10-year strategic agreement with the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture this year. Norwegian experts have gone to Qiong for exchanges this year, and 8 to 10 Norwegian experts will come in the future.

While policy dividends are being released, the development of major local infrastructure is accelerating, which will continue to empower the development of enterprises. The author has seen that the first phase of the port and supporting engineering projects in the Lingao Jinjin Port Development Zone, which is close to a number of corporate factories, is accelerating construction. After the project is completed, it will become an important port hub for logistics and trade in Hainan Free Trade Port.

On June 12, aerial photography was taken of the breakwater project site of the first phase of the Lingao Jinjin Port Development Zone port and supporting engineering project. Photo by Chen Yingqing

"In the first phase of the project, two new 70,000-ton general-purpose berths will be built, with an annual designed throughput of 7 million tons." Yang Deyi, director of the Financial Construction Office of the Lingao County Transportation Bureau, said that the construction of the Jinjin Port can improve the port network layout of Hainan Province, further intensify the land-sea shipping routes, effectively divert the transportation pressure from the main ports, shorten logistics mileage, and reduce comprehensive transportation costs.

Yang Deyi said that the construction of the Golden Port can also strengthen economic and trade exchanges between Hainan and Guangdong and Guangxi, southwestern inland provinces, and ASEAN countries, strengthen regional industrial collaboration and material exchanges, and further release the policy advantages of Hainan's free trade port.

Liu Wei said that after the terminal is completed, it can solve the company's pain points of high transportation costs and limited transportation of large prefabricated components, significantly reduce the company's comprehensive logistics costs, and help companies achieve large-scale export sales and overseas layout of products. (over)