SOME 500 Shanghai-based enterprises will experiment with electronic customs clearance by the end of this year, up from the present number of 264, according to the city’s customs authority.

　　Most of the 500 companies are large overseas-funded businesses, export-oriented processing firms and high-tech enterprises.

　　Customs clearance through an exchange of electronic data, also known as paperless clearance, is a major step in China’s customs reform, a customs official said.

　　“Enterprises do not have to send someone physically to the customs house for clearance now that everything can be done on-line,” the official said. “Besides, it helps enterprises reduce storage and delay fees.”

　　Shanghai Customs became the first customs house in China to try paperless clearance beginning Feb. 1.

　　By Aug. 25, Shanghai Port had cleared 20,500 shipments through electronic data exchange, including 14,500 inbound and 6,000 outbound shipments. The average time needed for clearing each shipment had been cut by several hours.

　　To ensure faster clearance and reduce costs even further for enterprises, the customs also encourages enterprises to clear their upcoming imports in advance.

　　Figures show that 21.4 percent of all inbound shipments at Shanghai port are cleared in advance. Advance clearance has cut the average time needed to clear each shipment by 86 percent.

　　In another development, Shanghai customs will team up with local inspection and quarantine authorities to provide one-stop service to customers.

　　Paperless clearance has also been put on trial in seven other customs houses, including Ningbo, Qingdao, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Gongbei and Huangpu. (Xinhua)