Qingdao Export Processing Zone

Qingdao Export Processing Zone in Shandong province was founded in March 2003 with the approval of the State Council and started operation in August 2004. It covers a planning area of 2.8 square kilometers.

The zone is one of the few export processing zones in China that are located outside a development zone, which means it lacks financial and industrial support. To achieve sustainable development, the zone built up a 45-sq-km industry supporting zone outside after it was established.

In 2012, the zone was put under the jurisdiction of Qingdao National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. The area of the industry supporting zone was reduced to 10 sq km. In 2017, the zone was put under the administration of Qingdao Qianwan Free Trade Port Zone and the industry supporting zone was cancelled.

After years of development, the zone has cultivated four competitive industries: precision machinery, electronic information, new materials and bonded logistics. To promote the transformation and upgrading of its industries, the zone is now committed to developing emerging industries in commodity trading, cross-border e-commerce, research and development (R&D) and design, testing and maintenance, cultural trading, and bonded commodities exhibition and trade.

By May 2018, the zone had attracted 121 domestic and foreign-funded projects, of which 61 are funded by investment from foreign companies, with total investment volume of $1.03 billion.

In 2017, the zone's export-import volume totaled $890 million yuan, of which $590 million were from exports.