The Xiamen Free Trade Zone's initiative of "actively participating in the formulation of international maritime transport rules to promote the global adoption of Chinese standards" was selected as part of the sixth batch of "Best Practice Cases" for China's pilot free trade zones, issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Sept 15. With this achievement, the Xiamen FTZ has now contributed a total of six national-level "Best Practice Cases".
As one of China's key industrial raw materials exported to Europe, China exports approximately 100,000 metric tons of chemical-grade barite powder annually, most of which is shipped via Xiamen Port.
Previously, chemical-grade barite powder was not included in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code). This typically takes several months, resulting in high transportation times and costs, as well as significant risks of contract breaches and delays.
In response, the Xiamen FTZ and the Xiamen Maritime Safety Administration advanced research on international rules and standards.
They compiled and submitted the "proposal on adding chemical-grade barite powder as group A cargo", recommending the inclusion of barite powder in the IMSBC Code cargo list and clarifying how to safely transport the cargo.
Ultimately, the IMSBC Code Amendment 07-23 formally adopted this standard, providing a "pass" for chemical-grade barite powder enterprises to access the global market.
The amendment entered voluntary implementation by contracting governments starting Jan 1, 2024, and will become mandatory on Jan 1, 2025. To date, Xiamen has facilitated the smooth export of nearly 300,000 tons of chemical-grade barite powder, with a total value exceeding 200 million yuan.