Linyi, Shandong's Ambitious Plans for an International Trade and Logistics Hub
The 3rd Linyi Trade City International Sourcing Conference for Belt and Road Cooperation took place on October 10 at the Linyi Mall in China's Shandong province. The event attracted more than 2,000 buyers from 99 different countries, reflecting Linyi's growing status as a global trade facilitator. This conference marks a significant step in promoting international collaboration and has established itself as a crucial platform for trade and investment discussions among Belt and Road partner nations.
Linyi is often referred to as China’s ‘logistics city’ and stands out as one of the key national business service logistics hubs. The city has gained recognition for its role as an essential distribution center within the country. With its strong base in various sectors, including the convention and e-commerce industries, Linyi utilizes its geographic advantages to maintain the largest market cluster in China, featuring a diverse range of commodity categories.
At the heart of Linyi’s logistics operations are the Linyi Mall and its vast network of facilities. The mall boasts 136 specialized wholesale markets, approximately 63,700 retail outlets, and around 46,000 business owners under its roof, supported by a workforce of one million logistics professionals. The range of products available spans 27 categories and encompasses over six million individual items, effectively covering all key production and consumer needs in the market.
Linyi Mall has been at the forefront of China's logistics strategy, characterized by its extensive road, rail, sea, and air connectivity. The city is home to 22 logistics parks and has established over 3,000 local delivery lines that reach all major cities in China, ensuring a comprehensive distribution network. This streamlined logistics operation offers prices that are approximately 30% lower than the national average, giving it a competitive edge in the market.
At the international level, Linyi is pursuing a vigorous strategy to enhance Linyi Mall's global outreach, pushing for the development of comprehensive malls that integrate both online and offline channels and cater to both domestic and international consumers. In the last fiscal year, the mall reported a staggering market transaction volume of 660 billion yuan, with total logistics surpassing one trillion yuan. Additionally, it achieved an import and export turnover of 114.6 billion yuan in 2024.
While Linyi Mall actively draws in foreign traders, it also promotes local businesses to expand internationally. In the first eight months of 2025 alone, 476 companies from the mall facilitated an impressive import and export volume of 10.267 billion yuan according to Linyi Customs, marking a remarkable year-on-year growth of 58.5%.
This momentum reflects Linyi's forward-thinking approach to trade and logistics, positioning itself as a key player in the global marketplace. As the city continues to innovate and expand, the potential for economic collaboration and growth within the Belt and Road initiative appears limitless, setting a strong precedent for the future of international trade in the region.
In conclusion, Linyi's ambitions to become a world-class logistics hub exemplify the city’s commitment to fostering interplay between local and global markets, initiating trade dialogues, and contributing to the greater Belt and Road Cooperation. The enthusiasm displayed at the recent conference indicative of this vision will surely lay the groundwork for future successes and mutual prosperity within the trading community.