At Manzhouli Xinfeng Grain and Oil Industry Co., Ltd., imported Russian rapeseed is transformed into high-quality oil using advanced production lines. The process, from dehulling to pressing, operates seamlessly, producing rapeseed oil valued for its quality and high smoke point. “As soon as the raw materials clear customs, we go straight into production, operating around the clock,” said Yang Zhihong, deputy general manager. This model of importing raw materials and processing them locally is driving businesses toward value-added production.
A special border trade policy allows residents in the area to engage in small-scale cross-border trade with simplified customs procedures, reducing costs significantly. “By importing raw materials through ‘border trade,’ we save an average of 500 yuan (about 69.5 U.S. dollars) per tonne. Since last year, that’s added up to savings of over 8 million yuan,” Yang explained. This approach lowers trade costs from 18 percent to under 4 percent, benefiting businesses and enabling border residents to earn income from price differences. As of April 2025, Manzhouli’s border trade has exceeded 100 million yuan, involving over 3,600 residents and generating nearly 2 million yuan in tax revenue.
Manzhouli’s timber industry is also flourishing. Since establishing a timber processing base in 2003, the city has prioritized advanced processing techniques. The import-export resource processing industrial park, located in the Manzhouli border economic cooperation zone, handles up to 5.6 million cubic meters of timber annually, producing items like furniture, doors, windows, and flooring. In 2023, timber imports reached 1.88 million cubic meters, reflecting the industry’s strong growth.
Additionally, Manzhouli is developing a 2.74-square-kilometer chemical industry cluster within the industrial park. This cluster will process imported liquefied petroleum gas, methanol, and alkanes from Russia to produce high-quality chemical intermediates for advanced polymer materials and engineering plastics, boosting the city’s economic growth.
“Manzhouli’s transformation from a transit station to an industrial hub reflects the development of the port-based processing model,” said Bai Zhiping, an official from the municipal commerce bureau. Businesses are increasingly leveraging the border’s advantages to build an ecosystem focused on deep processing.
In the first quarter of 2025, Manzhouli’s import and export freight volume reached 6.53 million tonnes, up 10.6 percent from the previous year. The total value of imports and exports processed through the port was 47.67 billion yuan, a 6.1 percent increase year on year.
