The consumer market in East China's Shanghai has continued to show steady growth in the current year, with a strong performance in imports of various goods, according to the latest numbers from Shanghai Customs.

In the first three quarters of the year, the total value of consumer goods imported through Shanghai ports hit 552.72 billion yuan ($77.76 billion), reflecting positive trends across several categories.

One telling example of the growth for January to September was the arrival of 22 metric tons of imported fresh oranges on Oct 22 with the shipment, after 40 days at sea, arriving at Waigaoqiao Port.

After docking, the cold storage data on the consignment was uploaded to a customs platform where it underwent quick verification, completing thousands of checks in just seconds. 

This system, introduced by Shanghai Customs in 2021, has improved the speed and efficiency of fruit imports, processing over 23 million data entries to date.

In addition, the first batch of Chilean cherries for the 2024/25 season was inspected at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Customs officials verified the documentation and checked for any issues with packaging, pests, or quality.

The increase in imported goods is said to reflect a wider variety of products available to Chinese consumers, including new offerings like Malaysian durians and South African avocados. 

Shanghai Customs says it is continuing to streamline its processes, supporting the city's role as a key player in global trade.