HAIKOU -- One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases, official figures showed on Sunday.

According to Haikou Customs, from Dec 18, 2025 to Jan 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about $693.5 million), up 46.8 percent year-on-year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year-on-year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality.

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To better meet the diverse needs of tourists, Hainan's duty-free policy ushered in a new round of adjustments on Nov 1, 2025. The categories of duty-free goods increased from 45 to 47, and the beneficiary range was expanded to include outbound travelers, attracting more international tourists to duty-free shopping.

In addition, the new duty-free policy has significantly lowered the purchase threshold for local residents. Under the policy, local residents with a departure record can purchase up to 15 "pick-up" items at any time throughout the year, which has also stimulated the shopping enthusiasm.

On Dec 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan FTP, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures.