CNSC celebrates dual duty-free openings in Northeast China

CHINA. China National Service Corporation (CNSC) has recently opened two new duty-free stores in the Northeastern Chinese cities of Tianjin and Yanji.

The opening of the stores at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port and Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport represent a collective milestone in CNSC’s efforts to enhance its presence at key ports, the Sinopharm-controlled travel retailer said.

The 255sq m Tianjin International Cruise Home Port arrivals duty-free store offers a range of categories, including tobacco and liquor, cosmetics, and health and wellness.

The store enjoys a strategic location inside northern China’s largest cruise hub, offering CNSC the opportunity to capitalise on the rapid growth of the country’s cruise tourism industry.

“The store will help enhance the competitiveness of Tianjin’s cruise industry supply chain, revitalise the Bohai Economic Rim economic circle*, and contribute to the development of Tianjin as a consumer hub,” it added.

Building presence in  the Bohai Economic Rim

The Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport departures duty-free store specialises in tobacco and liquor. The impressive international and domestic brand mix includes Kweichow Moutai, Wuliangye, Hennessy, Rémy Martin, The Macallan and Royal Salute in spirits and Zhonghua (Chunghwa), Panda and Davidoff cigarettes.

The city of Yanji in Jilin province is the political, economic and cultural centre of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, while Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport serves as an important gateway connecting Northeast China to the rest of Northeast Asia.

With its unique positioning and high traffic, the airport has become a crucial trade hub between China and South Korea, CNSC observed.

The company said the store opening represents a pragmatic advance in its efforts to support Northeast China’s comprehensive revitalisation and to promote border trade.

CNSC pledged to continuously optimise the supply chain and service system to provide an efficient and convenient duty-free retail experience for outbound travellers.

“By leveraging the cultural advantages of the Yanbian Korean ethnic community and the increasing demand for China-South Korea economic exchange and cooperation, the store will help boost Yanji’s role as a Northeast Asian gateway, drive consumption upgrade in the area, and inject new momentum into cross-border commerce,” CNSC said.

The travel retailer said the two openings represent a milestone in its multi-channel integration strategy, which spans downtown and border stores, the Hainan offshore duty-free sector, overseas markets and online platforms.

The latest expansion has further enhanced the company’s network in the Bohai Economic Rim and wider Northeast Asia, solidifying its presence in these critical duty-free markets, CNSC said.

Looking forward, the company pledged to continue to deepen its unique ‘duty-free + health’ business model – focused on a combination of core categories and wellness-related products.

CNSC said it will drive supply chain integration and enhance its digital operations to improve availability of high-quality global products.

The company aims to also promote premium Chinese products to international audiences, fostering the integration of tourism, culture and commerce to create what it called “interesting and differentiated” retail experiences.

“Through these efforts, we seek to support China’s consumption upgrade while injecting fresh momentum into regional economic growth, to help advance the high-quality development of the nation’s duty-free industry, and to share good Chinese brands and stories with consumers worldwide,” CNSC added. Read More